MOVIE TO WATCH: MRS. DOUBTFIRE (TRIBUTE TO ROBIN WILLIAMS)

Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 American comedy film starring Robin Williams (who also served as co-producer) and Sally Field and based on the novel Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine. It was directed by Chris Columbus and distributed by 20th Century Fox. It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup. The film was placed 67th in the American Film Institute's 100 Years, 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies, a list of the 100 funniest movies of the 20th century, and was also rated No. 40 on Bravo's 100 Funniest Movies of All Time. 

Plot

Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is a talented, but recently unemployed, voice actor living in San Francisco. Daniel is devoted to his three children Lydia (Lisa Jakub), Chris (Matthew Lawrence), and Natalie (Mara Wilson), but he is not a good disciplinarian. His wife, Miranda (Sally Field), considers him irresponsible and immature, and their marriage is on the rocks. When Daniel throws Chris a chaotic birthday party despite his bad report card, Miranda finally snaps and asks for a divorce. At their first custody hearing, the judge provisionally grants Miranda custody of the children, since Daniel has neither a suitable residence nor a steady job.

Daniel learns that Miranda intends to hire a housekeeper to care for the children. Since she is not willing to let him watch the kids, Daniel surreptitiously alters her classifieds form and calls her a few times, using his voice acting skills to pose as several disturbing applicants. He then calls her posing as a pleasant and kind elderly Scottish nanny, whom he dubs "Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire" after seeing a newspaper headline with the words "doubt fire". Impressed by her supposed credentials, Miranda invites "Mrs. Doubtfire" for an interview. Daniel enlists his gay brother Frank (Harvey Fierstein), a makeup artist, and Frank's partner Jack to transform him into Mrs. Doubtfire.

Neither Miranda nor the children recognize Daniel when he goes to the interview as Mrs. Doubtfire, and Miranda hires her. The children initially struggle to adjust to Mrs. Doubtfire's strict methods, but she soon makes herself an indispensable part of the family, and Miranda is able to heal her rocky relationship with her children. Daniel, who has had to learn several skills, also steadily rebuilds his life; he gets a menial job at a television station while learning to be a better parent and improving his apartment. However, he is riven with jealousy when he notices Miranda's new love interest Stuart Dunmire (Pierce Brosnan) spending more time with his family. Daniel also realizes he has created another barrier when he asks Miranda if he can look after the children one night, she refuses; explaining that although Daniel has improved himself greatly, she could never dismiss Mrs. Doubtfire, as she has made their lives so much better.

One day, Chris and Lydia inadvertently discover that Mrs. Doubtfire is really their father in disguise, leading him to explain his actions to them. Glad that he is back in their lives, Chris and Lydia agree to not tell anyone.

At the television station, CEO Jonathan Lundy (Robert Prosky) is amused when he sees Daniel clowning around with toy dinosaurs on the set of an outdated children's program. He invites him to dinner at Bridges Restaurant on the coming Friday evening to pitch new ideas. Meanwhile, Miranda expects Mrs. Doubtfire to attend a birthday dinner with Stuart and the children at the same time and place. Unable to turn down the invitation and unable to reschedule his meeting with Lundy, Daniel goes to the restaurant and has to rotate between both dinners by changing in and out of the Mrs. Doubtfire costume in the restroom. Because alcoholic beverages have been ordered at both tables, Daniel gets tipsy and his behavior becomes more erratic. He dumps pepper (which Stuart is allergic to) on Stuart's order and then forgets to change out of the Mrs. Doubtfire costume before returning to Lundy's table. Daniel covers for his mistake by explaining to a confused Lundy that his alter ego is his idea for a new television persona, which impresses his boss.

To make matters worse, Stuart then starts choking on the pepper. Daniel, still in the Mrs. Doubtfire costume, administers the Heimlich maneuver to Stuart. During the struggle, Daniel's mask rips off, revealing his identity. Horrified and furious at finding out who her beloved housekeeper is, Miranda storms out of the restaurant with Stu and the children.

At their next custody hearing, Daniel pleads his case, but despite holding a job and a suitable home, and despite his personal explanation for the ruse, the judge considers his behavior "unorthodox" and grants Miranda full custody of the children, with Daniel limited to supervised visitation once a week. The ruling leaves Daniel heartbroken. Without Mrs. Doubtfire, the children are again withdrawn and depressed; even Miranda admits that their lives were so much better wit her. They are then delighted to see Daniel dressed as Mrs. Doubtfire hosting his own television program, "Euphegenia's House", which has become a hit.

Miranda pays Daniel a visit at the studio, telling him that she and the kids were happier with him involved. She forgives him and successfully appeals the custody ruling, allowing them to share custody, and they make peace with each other. Later, she introduces the kids to their new "babysitter": Daniel, now undisguised and without supervision, who is allowed to see them anytime he wants. Daniel and the kids head out for the day while Miranda happily watches an episode of Euphegenia's House, where Mrs. Doubtfire answers a letter from a little girl whose parents are divorcing. Mrs. Doubtfire responds with the advice that no matter what the setup or circumstances, wherever there is love you'll have a "family in your heart."

If you are a family man you have to see the movie with your entire family. Once again after seeing the movie you will say what an actor Robin Williams was! You will feel sorry for that, this versatile actor is no more with us.