Every 90s Kid's Favorite Comedy Is Now On Netflix

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 31 seconds ago

The problem with the good old days is that you only recognize them after they’re over. It’s the same with being a kid; you don’t know how great life is without adult responsibilities, and it’s true that you’ll always have a soft spot for the movies you watched growing up. 90s kids are especially spoiled thanks to Robin Williams putting out Hook, Jumanji, Flubber, and Aladdin within the decade, but his most iconic and widely quoted to 90s kids is Mrs. Doubtfire. The 1993 blockbuster is now available on Netflix for a new generation to discover why he was one of the most beloved stars in history. 

Robin Williams Is The Only Reason Mrs. Doubtfire Works

Robin Williams was already a star before Mrs. Doubtfire thanks to his hit sitcom, Mork & Mindy, and years of high-profile movie roles from Good Morning Vietnam to Dead Poets Society, but a divorce comedy about a man so desperate to be with his children that he’d dress as an old British woman doesn’t sound like the highest-grossing film of the year, but that’s exactly what it was. As a down-on-his-luck actor Daniel Hillard, Williams carries the barebones plot through sheer force of will, which is good because when you stop to think about what’s really going on in the movie, Daniel is absolutely insane. 

Posing as Mrs. Doubtfire becomes more difficult when his ex-wife, Miranda (Sally Field), starts dating again, but her rebound, Stu (Pierce Brosnan), is a fantastic guy who does nothing wrong throughout the film. His dislike of Daniel, even calling him a loser, is how anyone would react in his position. As a kid, all of that went over the heads of the target audience. Williams covering his face in whipped cream and unleashing that bizarre not-quite British accent was all that theater goers needed to lose their minds. 

Still One Of The Greatest Family Comedies Of All Time

The low-stakes is a large part of the charm of Mrs. Doubtfire, which is oddly devoid of any real conflict. Daniel putting his life together in the oddest way possible is the entire point of the story, but you have to imagine if it were made today, more emphasis would be placed on the legal proceedings, maybe the threat of jail time, and of course, some social media influencer finding out about the scheme and going after Daniel about it. Thankfully, back in the 90s, Robin Williams being allowed to be Robin Williams was all that audiences needed. 

Mrs. Doubtfire is a sentimental movie that wears its heart on its sleeve. That’s why it’s been one of the 90s’ most popular and enduring movies since its release over 30 years ago. On Rotten Tomatoes, it sits at a 70 percent critic rating and 77 percent audience rating, both of which seem, to 90s kids, far too low. 

There will never be another performer like Robin Williams. The enthusiasm and pure joy he radiated every second on screen can not be duplicated. No matter what demons he battled throughout his life, Williams left a lasting legacy of timeless classics, including Mrs. Doubtfire, a film that would have crashed and burned with anyone else in the lead, which is still one of the greatest family comedies of all time.