As a kid, I remember watching Doc Hollywood purely because Michael J Fox was in it. I loved Back to the Future and Teen Wolf, so seeing a new movie with Michael J. Fox in it at my local video store had me excited. As a kid, I did not love the movie, but I did not hate it either. I would watch this again in my teenage years and like it a lot more, and now as an adult, I really do appreciate what a charming little drama Doc Hollywood is.
Where to Watch Doc Hollywood
Doc Hollywood was released on August 2, 1991. You can stream the film from a digital platform such as Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.
The Movie Review
Also, in watching this for the first time in a very long time, my mind was blown that Woody Harrelson is in this movie. Even though I would say it is a pretty important part, I had completely forgotten that Woody Harrelson was in the movie. It is a pretty solid cast all around, with our main leading lady, Julie Warner, being super likable.
Doc Hollywood is a very predictable kind of movie, but it is a feel-good kind of movie that is perfect when you want something fun and easy to watch. Michael J Fox plays the role of a young man called Ben who is making his way to LA to interview for a job as a plastic surgeon. He is a recently graduated doctor, and he wants to have a fun and fancy life, hence why he is going into this field, instead of practicing proper medicine.
The Story of Ben Stone and the Small Town That Changes Him
While driving to LA, he ends up driving through a small town in South Carolina. While trying to avoid a cow, Ben ends up crashing his car through a fence, and this fence just so happens to belong to Judge Evans! Furious, Judge Evans sentences Ben to community service, and he extends it due to Ben’s terrible attitude.
This is just a very charming little town, and the grouchy old doctor is thinking of retiring, so the people there think Ben could be his replacement. The people of the town start to like Ben, and Ben starts to really like the relaxed small-town life that he is experiencing. There is a bit of love drama here, though, as Ben has a thing for a single mom called Lou, but another man called Hank has a thing for Lou too, and the mayor’s daughter has her eyes on Ben. It sounds like a confusing mess, but it all works out and is easy to follow.
Predictable but Charming Storytelling
Ultimately, Ben decides that he still wants to go to LA and become a plastic surgeon, but in a very predictable twist, he finds the shallow LA lifestyle not to his liking, and he wants to go back to South Carolina. Yes, you know that this is where the movie is going from pretty much the start, but that does not make it bad.
The Surprising Connection Between Doc Hollywood and Cars
Before we bring this to a close, I have to address something that I came across while doing a deep dive on Doc Hollywood after I watched it. The Pixar movie Cars has a very, very similar premise to Doc Hollywood! When I first read this, I thought it was a reach, but the more I looked into it…. Holy crap, Cars really does borrow many of the elements from Doc Hollywood. Hey, I am not saying this as a bad or negative thing; actually, I thought it was pretty damn funny. Once you realize how many things are similar, you cannot unsee the fact that Cars is like the Disney version of Doc Hollywood!
Final Thoughts on This Feel Good 90s Movie
I am so glad that I watched this again after many years; it is just a very charming movie from start to end. It has likable characters, a nice setting, and it leaves you with a smile on your face. Oh, I highly recommend doing a double feature of Doc Hollywood followed by Cars; that right there is a great night of entertainment, especially if you have a whole load of movie snacks to enjoy!
