Retro Review: Mrs. Doubtfire – Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss

BY JOHN CARTER JR

Imagine you are recently divorced and you are no longer able to see your children regularly. Now imagine your ex puts out an advertisement for a new caretaker for the kids while you are at work. Do you respect the court’s visitation requirements, or do you plot against your ex to make sure you get the job she posted for by having your brother develop a disguise based on a sweet unassuming old British lady. Would you take on this new identity and deceive your ex for weeks, make her question her sanity, and even her decisions. What would you do?

Regarded as one of Robin Williams all-time most beloved roles and performances, and called by the same name, Mrs. Doubtfire, directed by Chris Columbus, is a film that isn’t entirely what it seems like on the surface. The film centers around Daniel Hillard, who has lost his job as a voice actor and subsequently gets a divorce from his wife. When presented with the aforementioned dilemma, he decides to take the later path. That being the dressing up as an old lady to deceive his wife and serve as the family’s nanny. What could be described as a funny, family friendly story about a father who will do anything to be with his kids, the film’s true hero it is actually Miranda Hillard (Sally Field). Period.

Throughout Mrs. Doubtfire, Miranda and Daniel as the titular protagonist, share many moments of closeness and bonding. She becomes vulnerable with the sweet old woman and is even comforted by a sense of familiarity she gets from her new caretaker. She reveals her struggles and confides in Mrs. Doubtfire throughout the film. Now had she not been Miranda’s ex in disguise Mrs. Doubtfire would have been the perfect friend to her. However, this massive deceit is not only scheming, cruel, boundary crossing, and based on a lie, but it also lends itself to moments of gaslighting. This is seen throughout the film when Miranda seems to be catching a whiff of something that has gone awry but is quickly addressed by Daniel.  

Now where is Ms. Hillard the hero. Firstly she is portrayed as “killing the vibe” (as the kids would say) and always being frustrated with Daniel. Can you blame her? She is a hard working woman who loves her kids and tries to do right by them. We see this at the beginning of the film when her husband throws a party for their son. Miranda planned on celebrating her boy but she comes home after work to a destroyed house, with a bunch of kids, and animals running amok. 

Throughout the film she tries to take her post divorce self love journey seriously. Focusing on herself, taking time for self love and leveling up. She ain’t got time for her petty husband when she is out here securing the bag, taking care of her three children, and focusing on a new man who actually sees her. 

In the end Mrs. Doubtfire is exposed and Miranda is given her due. She takes her power back and is the bigger person regarding what is right for her children. She gives Daniel another chance and the movie ends with the kids being able to be with their father for a bit more time.

The film is representative of real relationships. While it probably isn’t common for divorcees to deceive their former partner by dressing up as old women, gaslighting is a more common occurrence. This territorial feeling that Daniel has is also common in divorces where there are children involved. Like in real divorces, the problems inflicted on each person in the relationship spill over and have negative consequences for the children exposed. The Hillard children are also negatively impacted by the gaslighting of their mother and will probably affect their trust in the future. However, the film sort of just shrugs this off.

Mrs. Doubtfire is not simply a cute and nostalgic family comedy about a father who wants to see his children. It is the story about a mother who is constantly disrespected and finally has enough. The film is the journey the Hillard family takes to start healing. While the family’s mother was strong and willing to give their new lives a shot, the father was not. It shows gaslighting on full display and how complacent people are wilfully blind to it. Most importantly, however it is the story of how one woman and her family overcame this pervasive problem. All while being a baddie and getting her coin.

I give Mrs. Doubtfire 7/10 wigs for its humor and its cast.