Once upon a time Michael J Fox was one of the best up and coming talents in Hollywood, moving seamlessly from being a TV star with Family Ties to the big screen with classics such as Back to The Future
and Casualties of War
. In 1998, he announced that he was suffering from early onset Parkinson's disease and would be semi-retiring from acting. It was while making today's film, Doc Hollywood, that he first began to exhibit symptoms of the disease with a slight twitch in his little finger.
and Casualties of War. In 1998, he announced that he was suffering from early onset Parkinson's disease and would be semi-retiring from acting. It was while making today's film, Doc Hollywood, that he first began to exhibit symptoms of the disease with a slight twitch in his little finger. 
A fairly run of the mill comedy, Doc Hollywood stars Fox as Dr. Benjamin Stone, a conceited young MD who leaves his job in a Washington DC hospital to go to California and make his name as a plastic surgeon. Of course, while driving cross country in his Porsche Speedster he gets waylaid in a small country town in need of a young doctor. Not that you haven't realised it already, but yes there is a women with a troubled past who catches his eye, languishing in the small town. Except she isn't. She's there by choice, this is one of the things which sets this film apart from so many TV movies. The country folk aren't portrayed as backward bumpkins with a tooth in their heads. If anything the town is too idyllic for its own good. While it owes much to the likes of Local Hero
, there is much to enjoy here. Fox plays conceited and talented with aplomb and there is a fine turn from Woody Harrelson, playing the same small town fool he did in Cheers.
, there is much to enjoy here. Fox plays conceited and talented with aplomb and there is a fine turn from Woody Harrelson, playing the same small town fool he did in Cheers.
While the Fox character isn't the most likeable he has played, his natural charisma carries it through and like all happy endings, you're rooting for him come the denouement. Fox career would of course continue after his diagnosis in 1991, taking in some small roles in films like The American President
and Mars Attacks!
. His last starring role was in Peter Jackson's antipodean comic horror, The Frighteners
notable more for its special effects then any acting performance. It was while starring in the successful TV comedy Spin City
, that Fox made his announcement regarding his illness. He has continued to pop up here and there in various roles and guest appearances over the years, each time reminding you perhaps of what might have been, how big a star could he have been?
and Mars Attacks!. His last starring role was in Peter Jackson's antipodean comic horror, The Frighteners notable more for its special effects then any acting performance. It was while starring in the successful TV comedy Spin City, that Fox made his announcement regarding his illness. He has continued to pop up here and there in various roles and guest appearances over the years, each time reminding you perhaps of what might have been, how big a star could he have been?
In summary, Doc Hollywood is fairly formulaic comedy but there is a lot to admire including a strong performance from Michael J Fox and a more realistic portrayal of a small town then you might see elsewhere. Ultimately its likeable without being particularly memorable.
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