Movie Review: Doctor Who: The Movie (1996)
Synopsis: Synopsis: A TARDIS malfunction forces an emergency landing in San Francisco on December 30, 1999. While there, a newly regenerated Doctor must prevent his nemesis, the Master, from stealing his new body.
Who's in it? The movie stars Paul McGann, Eric Roberts, Daphne Ashbrook, Will Sasso and Yee Jee Tso.
Review: With Doctor Who in hiatus and with an uncertain future, I've been starting to get a bit of an itch for the series. As a result, I decided to take the time to rewatch Doctor Who: The Movie, a film I remember enjoying more than I was supposed to but also didn't remember a whole lot much else about. After re-watching it, I still think it is a better film than some Whovians give it credit for.
McGann only plays the Doctor once, in this movie, so his sample size is limited. However, I didn't hate his performance. Was it as memorable as David Tenant or Tom Baker? No. At the same time though, I thought he carried himself well enough to provide the character with just the right amount of respect he deserved. Meanwhile, Roberts' performance as the Master was solid enough to be a good complement.
The plot is one that seems kind of weird at first but does grow on you. The Master's attempts to steal the Doctor's regenerated body had a bit of a horror movie element to it and added to an already intriguing plot about needing to close the TARDIS' Eye of Harmony before it destroyed the world. Having it all set in the United States was a bold choice that, while I still have a few mixed emotions about, did give it a bit of uniqueness.
I did think the movie could have used a bit more action. It didn't need to have a lot of violence, especially since that would be a bit out of character for the Doctor, but perhaps a little more suspense would have helped. For example, the Doctor could have needed to think his way out of a complicated trap.
I also wasn't a fan of the apparent romantic connection between the Doctor and his companion, Grace (Ashbrook). The Doctor isn't a character who falls in love easily so a romantic subplot involving a woman he barely knew just seemed forced. I would much rather have seen that stay completely and unquestionably platonic.
Final Opinion: I can understand why this film didn't lead to an immediate reboot of the series but at the same time, I think it isn't a bad installment in the Doctor's long legacy. At minimum, it's worth taking the time to watch once.
My Grade: B
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Here are some reviews of other movies from 1996:
Movie Review: That Thing You Do (1996)
Movie Review: The Frighteners (1996)
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