Michael J. Fox was on quite the hot streak coming out of the 1980s. He had just wrapped up his stint on the beloved, long-running sitcom Family Ties, and his role in the Back to the Future trilogy made him a bonafide movie star. In 1991, he harnessed his effortless charm for a role as a driven doctor who takes an unexpected detour through rural America in the delightful romantic comedy Doc Hollywood. In the film, Fox plays Ben Stone, a doctor who has recently completed his medical residency in Washington D.C., and is set to head out to Beverly Hills for a job interview with a plastic surgeon. Ben is ready for a cushy job that comes with all of the perks. Along his journey, though, he makes a few errors in judgement and ends up crashing into a fence to avoid a cow in a small South Carolina town. Ben gets sentenced to 32 hours of community service at the town medical clinic for destroying the judge’s fence. Ben is incredibly anxious to get out of the town as soon as possible, but fans on the genre already know there might just be something in the town worth sticking around for.
The citizens of the town are an absolute delight, and they radiate a wholesome joy that keeps you invested in the outcome. The town is in need of a new permanent doctor, as the current one, Hogue (Barnard Hughes), is on the precipice of retirement. Their efforts to highlight the many charms of the town to entice Ben to stick around lead to many funny and heartfelt moments. David Ogden Stiers is a highlight as Mayor Nick Nicholson, who gently pushes Ben most of all. Many of his throwaway lines will have you rolling with laughter. Woody Harrelson elevates his role as Hank, a local insurance salesman who serves as something of a friendly rival to Ben while he is in town. There are many opportunities to have his character go the cliché route, but the script keeps his actions fresh for the viewers. While there is a whole town of colorful characters to fall in love with, the subject of Ben’s attention is Lou (Julie Warner), a captivating ambulance driver with whom he trades quips. Warner offers up a mesmerizing confidence that makes you easily fall in love with her. The town is working overtime to show Ben reasons to stay, and it is easy to see why Lou would be at the top of that list.
Michael J. Fox plays Ben with just the right amount of maturity to keep the character both likable and believable. Fox has a natural penchant for sarcasm that has served him well, but this character is more grounded than you would guess upon first glance. When he reveals some of his background during a quiet moment with Lou, you gain an even greater appreciation for the complexity of his character. He may be drawn to the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle, but that does not mean he is lacking in depth. The movie offers up copious amounts of laughter, but where it really shines is the palpable chemistry between Ben and Lou. Their relationship is not particularly groundbreaking, but it is executed in such a satisfying way that you cannot helped but be swept away in the romance. The movie is not afraid to indulge in quieter moments that trade laughs for something deeper emotionally. It is movies like these that make you really appreciate the art of a well-done romantic comedy.
Doc Hollywood is an enchanting tale of embracing the charming eccentricities of small town living. Predictability is often labeled as a negative concept, but the natural progression of this story is comforting in a way that you need movies to be sometimes. The film is perfectly paced so that no moment ever feels superfluous or wasted along your journey. The small towns in Florida that serve as a stand in for Grady, South Carolina are endearing enough to make even the most ardent city-dweller contemplate what it would be like to live in such a place. This is a film that is romanticized in every way, and there is nothing wrong with that sometimes. If you need a nice slice of something that goes down easy during these trying times, make sure to add this one to your list.
Video Quality
Doc Hollywood gets a major upgrade from the ancient full-frame DVD to Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a 1080p transfer sourced from a 2K scan of the interpositive. The transfer provides nice, natural film grain absent of any compression artifacts or other such damage. This disc also beautifully represents the lush country landscape that runs throughout the film. There are some nice, vibrant colors that bring a real warmth to the film, from the sports car to the lights of the festival. Skin tones look natural, and the presentation offers up deep black levels. There is also a noticeable uptick in detail that should please fans of the film. Subtle details in the downhome production design standout more than ever before. This is a major upgrade from the ancient source material used for previous DVD releases.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive brings this Blu-Ray to consumers with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that is worthy of praise due to its reverence to the original intent. The dialogue holds up quite nicely, coming though clearly without being stepped on by the score or sound effects. Being an ode to the charms of small town living, the track is able to nicely incorporate some subtle environmental activity. The movie sports a jaunty score from Carter Burwell that sounds great here. This is a track that represents the film in a very satisfying way. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Trailer: A two-minute trailer that represents the film accurately without too much in the way of spoilers.
Final Thoughts
Michael J. Fox has a commanding on-screen presence that is hard to ignore. In Doc Hollywood, he draws you into this tale of small town living and burgeoning relationships that does the heart well. Julia Warner flawlessly plays the quintessential love interest that will steal your heart. Warner Archive has provided a wonderful Blu-Ray with a top notch A/V presentation that allows the film to look and sound the best it ever has. If you are need of some joy in your life, this should do the trick. Highly Recommended
Doc Hollywood can be purchased directly through Warner Archive or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.