The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
Back to trending 
Doc Hollywood
Comedy · Romance · 1991
After leaving Washington D.C. hospital, plastic surgeon Ben Stone heads for California, where a lucrative practice in Beverly Hills awaits. After a car accident, he's sentenced to perform as the community's general practitioner.
Movie details
Doc Hollywood
“He was headed for Beverly Hills to be a plastic surgeon... but he took an exit to a town that didn't take plastic.”
1991 Comedy · Romance 1h 44m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.4 / 10
Community rating
After leaving Washington D.C. hospital, plastic surgeon Ben Stone heads for California, where a lucrative practice in Beverly Hills awaits. After a car accident, he's sentenced to perform as the community's general practitioner.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Doc Hollywood?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Michael Caton-Jones
Written by
Peter S. Seaman · Jeffrey Price · Daniel Pyne
Michael J. Fox
Benjamin Stone
Julie Warner
Vialula (Lou)
Barnard Hughes
Aurelius Hogue
Woody Harrelson
Hank Gordon
David Ogden Stiers
Mayor Nick Nicholson
Frances Sternhagen
Lillian, Welcoming Committee
George Hamilton
Doctor Halberstrom
Court is in session
Put Doc Hollywood on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.