Robin Williams and his producer wife, Marsha Garces Williams, were the nurturing forces behind the development of Mrs. Doubtfire, ultimately choosing director Chris Columbus (Home Alone) to bring Anne Fine's novel Alias Madame Doubtfire to the big screen. That's just one of the factoids about the 1993 hit film featured on this “Behind-the-Seams” edition, which includes a second disc full of extras certain to delight fans of the movie and/or Williams. After struggling actor/single dad Daniel Hillard (Williams) is devastated by a court order limiting visits with his children to once each week, he disguises himself as a warm old British nanny who becomes the kids' best friend. As with Dustin Hoffman's performance in Tootsie, Williams's drag act—buried under layers of latex and padding—is the show; everyone and everything else onscreen serves his sometimes frantic role, but even after 15 years, Mrs. Doubtfire still holds up well as family entertainment. DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted/extended scenes, a new behind-the-scenes featurette, a makeup application segment, a conversation with legendary animator Chuck Jones, and photo galleries, but the real treasure here is a half-hour-plus collection of multiple takes of Williams improvising his way through key scenes. Recommended. (T. Keogh)
Mrs. Doubtfire: Behind-the-Seams Edition
Fox, 125 min., PG-13, DVD: $19.98 (2 discs), Blu-ray: $39.98 Volume 23, Issue 3
Mrs. Doubtfire: Behind-the-Seams Edition
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