WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Mrs. Doubtfire
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 09 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4.5
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 8588-85
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 125
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1993
(LD Release Date): 04/01/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): Yes

Credits Information
(Director): Chris Columbus
(Screenplay/Written By): Randi Mayem Singer & Leslie Dixon
(Story): NA
(Music): Howard Shore
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Angelo Graham
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Raja Gosnell
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Matthew Rushton
(Co-Producers): Joan Bradshaw
(Producers): Marsha Garces Williams, Robin Williams & Mark Radcliffe

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo SR
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Mrs. Doubtfire, based on “Alias Madame Doubtfrie” by Ann Fune, is a delightfully hilarious and surprisingly touching comedy starring the hysterical Robin Williams as Daniel Hillard, a voiceover actor who deeply loves his family but finds that his wife wants a divorce because she feels she can no longer accept his whimsical and irresponsible behavior which has just cost him another job. Out-of-work and embattled in a custody battle over his three children, which he loses, he will do anything to see his children even though his visitation rights are restricted. When his almost ex-wife (Field) places an ad for a housekeeper, Daniel transforms himself into a loveable 60-year old woman with the help of his make-up artist brother (Fierstein) and to get the job as the nanny to his kids so that he can watch over them everyday.

LaserDisc Picture:
This is a THX Laser Disc Program supervised transfer with the correct 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The visual style appears to be a bit over-lit and unnaturally bright, especially throughout the interior scenes which have a “lit TV” look. Otherwise the picture is clean looking with excellent detail. Contrast is a bit lacking as are colors a bit undersaturated, which makes the picture look slightly washed out. Shadow detail is generally poor although blacks are solid.The disc is free of noise and other video artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack features a wonderfully supporting orchestral music score composed by Howard Shore. The music score is the only element that provides a stereophonic presence and a sense of surround envelopment. Otherwise this is essentially a monaural soundtrack. Both effects and dialogue are limited to a monaural presentation with the exception of a few isolated directional effects, but dialogue is well recorded and always clear.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: