'Mrs. Doubtfire' Director Might Release a Documentary About the Movie That Features R-Rated Scenes
On Thursday, 90s kids across America collectively freaked out when word got out that an NC-17 version of the beloved comedy “Mrs. Doubtfire” might exist. For those who don’t know, “Mrs. Doubtfire” is about a recently divorced father and underemployed actor, played by Robin Williams, who dresses up as a strict, old, English nanny so that he can spend more time with his children. The incomparable Harvey Fierstein co-stars as Williams’ brother and make-up artist.
Anyways, the revelation came in the form of a viral tweet that referenced a 2015 interview with the film’s director Chris Columbus.
While filming 'Mrs. Doubtfire' (1993), Robin Williams improvised so much that there were PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17 cuts of the film pic.twitter.com/vjYUCmyrj2
— Film Facts 🎬 (@factsonfiIm) March 18, 2021
Seeking to clear the air, Columbus spoke with Entertainment Weekly on Friday and denied the existence of an NC-17 film but said, thanks to Williams’ fondness for going off-script, there are multiple cuts of “Mrs. Doubtfire,” including an R-rated version.
"The reality is that there was a deal between Robin and myself, which was, he'll do one or two, three scripted takes. And then he would say, 'Then let me play.' And we would basically go on anywhere between 15 to 22 takes, I think 22 being the most I remember," the director said to EW before clarifying exactly what kind of leftover material exists.
"He would sometimes go into territory that wouldn't be appropriate for a PG-13 movie, but certainly appropriate and hilariously funny for an R-rated film. I only [previously] used the phrase NC-17 as a joke. There could be no NC-17 version of the movie."
Look, I don’t care what the rating is, I just want more Mrs. Doubtfire, dammit. As a registered old millennial, Robin Williams played an enormous role in my moviegoing experience. I have vivid memories of cruising through the aisles of Blockbuster, wondering if I could get away with renting “Flubber” for the billionth time, or if I should honor my parents’ request and nab “Good Will Hunting” instead. Either way, we were watching a Robin Williams flick that weekend.
But according to Columbus, the chances of getting an entirely new version of “Mrs. Doubtfire” are slim to none. “I'm in a good place with Mrs. Doubtfire,” said the seasoned director. “So there's really no reason to do the definitive cut. The definitive cut of Mrs. Doubtfire is out in the world right now.” What we might get instead is a documentary about the making of the film, which according to Columbus, would enable people to “see certain scenes re-edited in an R-rated version” and would contain “outrageously funny material.”
Honestly, that sounds just as good and refreshing. While the HBO documentary “Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind” offered a comprehensive look at the actor’s life, there’s yet to be a film that takes a zoomed-in look at William’s incredible comedic abilities, especially within the context of a single film. And as any serious Robin Williams fans could tell you, many of the actor’s most memorable moments on-screen were improvised. So if there’s an opportunity to see Williams in action again with new material, we should all be rooting for its release.
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