Talking To The Screen
Dr T and The Women
Wednesday 2/5/03, 11:39pm
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Every now and then a film is released with a completely misdirecting trailer. Such is the case with ?Dr. T and The Women?. From the previews I had seen, this movie looked like a screwball comedy about a gynecologist, presumably Dr. T (Richard Gere), and the women (wife, daughters and patients) that run circles through and around his life.
In fact, ?Dr. T and The Women? is a Robert Altman film and it is about Dr. T and the women who run rampant through his life, but it?s far from the goofy comedy warned by its trailers. It has a sense of humor, without question, but there are only a handful of full-on jokes. The movie doesn?t have much of a story line to it. I?ve read it described as a more of a film essay than a movie with beginning, middle and end. ?Dr. T and The Women? is something of a conglomerate of small interwoven story lines that Altman has been come to be known for. The throughline of this movie seems to be the notion that Dr. T despite being a father, husband and gynecologist has little if any control over the women in his life, whether they be wife, daughter, patient or lover.
Of note in this film is its ability to cast a hoard of esteemed female actors, including Farrah Fawcett, Laura Dern, Kate Hudson, Tara Reid, Helen Hunt, Shelly Long, and Liv Tyler. This casting allows for each of the nearly disparate story lines to lie on an even keel without acting ability giving one prominence.
?Dr. T and The Women? is a fun movie, not overly funny, not overly poignant. If anyone has a particular eye for Richard Gere or one of the many actresses in the film, it will be ultimately enjoyable, otherwise it?s merely cute but not a waste of time.
Home
Every now and then a film is released with a completely misdirecting trailer. Such is the case with ?Dr. T and The Women?. From the previews I had seen, this movie looked like a screwball comedy about a gynecologist, presumably Dr. T (Richard Gere), and the women (wife, daughters and patients) that run circles through and around his life.
In fact, ?Dr. T and The Women? is a Robert Altman film and it is about Dr. T and the women who run rampant through his life, but it?s far from the goofy comedy warned by its trailers. It has a sense of humor, without question, but there are only a handful of full-on jokes. The movie doesn?t have much of a story line to it. I?ve read it described as a more of a film essay than a movie with beginning, middle and end. ?Dr. T and The Women? is something of a conglomerate of small interwoven story lines that Altman has been come to be known for. The throughline of this movie seems to be the notion that Dr. T despite being a father, husband and gynecologist has little if any control over the women in his life, whether they be wife, daughter, patient or lover.
Of note in this film is its ability to cast a hoard of esteemed female actors, including Farrah Fawcett, Laura Dern, Kate Hudson, Tara Reid, Helen Hunt, Shelly Long, and Liv Tyler. This casting allows for each of the nearly disparate story lines to lie on an even keel without acting ability giving one prominence.
?Dr. T and The Women? is a fun movie, not overly funny, not overly poignant. If anyone has a particular eye for Richard Gere or one of the many actresses in the film, it will be ultimately enjoyable, otherwise it?s merely cute but not a waste of time.