nostalgia necessities: MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993)

Not since Lemmon and Matthau had cross-dressing been quite so entertaining as 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire.  The 1990s hero of comedy Robin Williams will almost certainly be remembered most for dressing up as a hideous but endearing European granny with a quick wit and a mean soccer kick.  Now, though the movie borders on pandering to the cliched and the melodramatic, the lasting impression it has is clear -- whatever schlock Williams pumps out in this new millennium, he can still be remembered fondly as the funniest female impersonator of this generation.  Upon a review of this film, it became clear to me that the underlying message that it is sending is one that I don't recall from early viewings of it.  Speaking to the virtually new generation of children growing up with divorced parents, it not only brought humor to the predicament, but also, particularly in the last ten minutes, gave hope to the youngsters that they would at some point achieve normalcy -- although, it may take a month of deceit and gender identity crises.  With a healthy combination of an undeniably adorable pre-Matilda Mara Wilson and an admirable second-fiddle performance from Sally Field, Mrs. Doubtfire can still be considered an iconic feat for the 1990s.

Memorable Scene:  Mrs. Doubtfire and Stu (a young Pierce Brosnan) grab for some dentures that have carelessly fallen into a glass of "stiff chardonnay."  "Carpe dentum.  Seize the teeth."