In terms of quality, Dr. T and the Women is one of Altman's good-but-not-great films. In typical Altman style, it features some great ensemble acting, including a wonderful performance by Richard Gere.
In terms of quality, Dr. T and the Women is one of Altman's good-but-not-great films. In typical Altman style, it features some great ensemble acting, including a wonderful performance by Richard Gere.
Director Robert Altman reteams with Cookie's Fortune scribe Anne Rapp for this tale of a Dallas gynecologist and the parade of anxious patients, haggard family members, and potential love interests who come his way. Richard Gere plays the titular role of Dr. Sullivan Travis, a calm, successful, and much sought-after ob-gyn who witnesses his normally stable life come apart over the course of one rainy autumn. As the film opens, Dr. T and his wife Kate (Farrah Fawcett) are preparing for the
wedding of their Dallas Cowboys cheerleader daughter Dee Dee (Kate Hudson). Their other daughter -- the Kennedy-assassination conspiracy theorist Connie (Tara Reid) -- has her doubts about the impending nuptials, but Dr. T chalks them up to routine sibling jealousy. Meanwhile, escaping a messy divorce, boozy sister-in-law Peggy (Laura Dern) moves into the Travis household with her three toddler daughters in tow. For release, Dr. T finds solace target shooting and golfing (occasionally at the same time) with his buddies, and at his country club, he meets a beguiling golf pro, Bree (Helen Hunt). When the childlike Kate loses her grip on reality during a flatware shopping spree, Bree offers to give the kindly doctor some lessons in his swing -- both on and off the fairways. Dr. T had its North American Premiere at the 2000 Toronto International Film Fest. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
While it's impossible to call anything fashioned by a man of Altman's skill unwatchable, there are times when this pedantic and dull effort comes close.
On the surface, Altman's film is clearly meant as a paean to the variety and emotional fecundity of women, but scratch the surface, and you realize that underneath, it's not so pretty.
The slightly anachronistic absurdity of the conceit -- the travails of a lone gentleman in a world of ladies -- gives the actors room to do some wonderful work.
Without exception, every one of Dr. T's -- and thus Altman's -- women is either neurotic, needy, naked, or a lesbian. In other words, either a male fantasy or a male fear.
Dr. T raises some seductive questions ... and mixes them up in a madcap and outlandish blender swirl. Through the murk, it's often hard to see the movie's heart.
Moves at hurricane speed for most of its 122-minute running time, but Gere deliberately underplays his character, providing the calm center that the story needs.
Though in no way comparable to some of his other works, I like to think of this as Altman's take on the "chick flick" genre. Featuring hilarious performances from Laura Dern, Shelley Long and Richard Gere.
"Dr. T & The Women" is a very underrated film from Robert Altman. While it's far from his best work and the comedy is much broader than his other films from the 00s, it's still immensely enjoyable. At it's heart, this is a film about women and how wild and unpredictable they can be. The film ends with a tornado, so the
symbolism can get a bit heavy handed. Thankfully, Altman uses his trademark overlapping dialogue to great effect and he pulls out some lovely and funny performances from all the women and especially an understated Richard Gere. Like we saw with "Nashville," "Short Cuts" and now "Dr. T & The Women," this is a film about a city. Altman understands what makes Dallas tick as much as he got Nashville and Los Angeles. Don't go into this film thinking it's a romantic comedy, like many do, because it's far from it.
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