Danny Grogg

This is arguably the most heavily underrated movie of all time. Yes, OF ALL TIME. Not to say it is with the best of the best, top of the world levels, but, it is considered one of the biggest box office flops in Hollywood history. It barely made $34M over it's $250M budget. Let that tiny little profit sink in: That's $284.1M total in it's time in theaters, the box office. Insanity! I went to see this with my dad in theaters, we had the whole room to ourselves. No one else had came to see it. And no, it wasn't "the cheap seats" either. Sure, there is a special feeling of comfort, luxury and immersion to having an entire theater to yourself to watch a movie, it certainly adds to the overall experience, and allows for a far more immersive viewing. But... it really does tell the tale of how badly this movie did. It deserved and still deserves FAR FAR better. The movie is to me, fairly simplistic, even the overall story-line and premise. So to me, it is incredibly odd that it cost so damn much to make. It's not CGI heavy that I can tell, which would help explain it's cost - Star Wars is universally the most CGI intensive films ever made - yet it is nowhere near as CGI filled as such movies. So if I am correct on that, it again begs the question of how it came to cost so damn much. Now, the reason I mentioned the prior is how easy it is to follow, enjoy and look at. The environment they created is not too much, nor is it too little. It in fact is PERFECT. That's tough to do! This adds so much to the movie experience. It makes it far more enjoyable overall by swallowing your attention and especially imagination up whole. I highly recommend this movie to all. I quite literally have it as my second favorite movie of all time, no joke. That said, I am VERY difficult to please when it comes to movies. My consistent cliche start to most movie reviews from is "Well it was pretty good honestly, but, it's nothing to write home about" ending in an equivalent to 5 out of 10 stars. So, this alone really kind of argues for both sides of the fence on debating whether I am a good person to listen to with movie reviews haha. But seriously, I still highly encourage all to watch it if you have not yet. Love it to pieces, even though I am not entirely sure why. It just hits all the right spots with me. Maybe it will with you too. Or, it could be a "niche" movie, who knows. Now, GO FIND OUT! Lmao

This movie has always spoken to me personally on a incredibly deep level. From having been through various psychiatric doctors, and school guidance counselors, and even therapists, and dealing with the American Medical system, and "by the book" types, it shows people just how damaging and agitating it really can be to do things in such a traditional "by the book" manner. This is precisely why it spoke to me to deeply and still does. For me, I was one of a unseen many people who did not fit any of the textbook definitions and descriptions, yet still got a definition shoved onto me anyway because it's required protocol. Everyone who comes in with issues is legally required to be given a specific disorder's title and definition. So even if you are told by your own psychiatric doctor that "you do not fit with any of our documented conditions", they'll go ahead and tell you "but we have to diagnose you anyways as it's a requirement". Let that sink in. Then, as they are taught to, they always try to prescribe you at least a pill for a single symptom and do not actually treat the disorder. No one is the same, certainly not mentally. So it is simply not fair nor logical to apply these kinds of parameters and principals. Patch Adams actually touches on this a little throughout the film. Knowing that for Robin himself, he knew full and well just how it all functions and works, and for him, none of the conventional things ever truly worked. He had publicly mentioned multiple times how much this frustrated him in his consistent attempts to get some form of aid in fighting his mental health conditions. You can feel and see his own personal experiences and feelings bleeding through the character, which is part of what makes his portrayal so incredible and untouchable. He fit the role impeccably. It is made to send a message to all out there that no, going by the books is not always a smart, helpful or good idea. It points out being personable and understanding while being able to adapt to each individual is more important than following through on the "grand scheme" of the medical industry and system. It shows that no, it doesn't always work, and can in fact make it all much worse for certain people to go as you were taught and are being told to go about it all. It also shows that when someone goes this unconventional route, people tend to negatively react to it when it begins to have an impact, and people begin to try it out, or come out with success stories and so on. It's always turned into some weird war of sorts between government, the medical industry, and plain old pro-conventionalists, vs those who acknowledge that there is something to going outside the parameters, the common thoughts and beliefs, and ultimately, outside "the boxes" of it all.