Young Doctors in Love Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		2.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Young Doctors in Love Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 5, 2017

After a highly successful producing career in television (responsible for such shows as “Happy Days,” “Laverne & Shirley,” and “Mork & Mindy”), Garry Marshall made the leap to feature filmmaking with 1982’s “Young Doctors in Love.” It’s material that plays to his sensibilities, offering character- based comedy that’s silly, but just misses the mark in terms of a snowballing madness. The picture is often labeled an “Airplane”-style farce that lampoons daytime soap operas, and while “Young Doctors in Love” has that intention, Marshall can’t quite wind the effort up correctly, content to pepper the movie with throwaway gags and limp one-liners. In the grand scheme of things, Marshall’s done worse, a lot worse, but his helming debut, while brightly made, lacks snap and edge, displaying some of the cuddliness he’d come to rely on.

It’s New Year’s Eve at City Hospital, and business is booming. Sent into to help with the mass of injured and ill people are a group of interns trying to jumpstart their medical career, dealing with unique professional and interpersonal challenges. For Simon (Michael McKean), Stephanie (Sean Young), Milton (Gary Franklin), Charles (Kyle T. Heffner), Thurman (Rick Overton), Bucky (Ted McGinley), and Phil (Taylor Negron), the hectic evening is just the beginning of their journey, with the coming weeks offering them romance, crime, and humiliation while dealing with patients such as Sal (Titos Vandis), a mob boss secretly admitted to the hospital by his son, Angelo (Hector Elizondo), who’s forced to dress as a woman to avoid detection from a rival family, who’s sent a hitman (Michael Richards) to assassinate the influential crook. Trying to maintain order and challenge the interns is Dr. Joseph (Dabney Coleman), securing his position of power as he provides an unforgettable education for these young doctors.

Introductions works best in “Young Doctors in Love,” getting to know the interns before they begin their City Hospital odyssey. Simon is arrogant, proclaiming his intent to become “greatest surgeon” medicine has even seen, rising the ire and the curiosity of Stephanie, who doesn’t know what to make of her colleague, who lives to challenge authority and prove himself. Phil is overworked and tired, sparking to the idea of stealing drugs, using the system to his advantage. And there’s Milton, who’s primary function in the film is to provide little person jokes, dealing with challenges in height throughout the story. There’s the staff as well, with Nurse Noreen (Pamela Reed) gradually softening as she experiences flirtations from one intern, and Dr. Joseph remains consumed with authority, even dismissing a fellow surgeon during an operation just because he’s wearing the same color scrub cap.

It’s a neurotic, problematic bunch, and the screenplay (credited to Michael Elias and Rich Eustis) gets off on the right foot, sending the interns into the thick of it during New Year’s Eve, where City Hospital is teeming with patients and problems. It’s the beginning of a trial period for the gang, who enjoy hijinks and deal tentatively with the sick, creating the feel of a farce, but the picture never catches fire. “Young Doctors in Love” is mostly interested in throwaway jokes, even using the hospital P.A. system to add in audio mischief (including an “E.T.” reference slipped into the effort a mere month after the release of the Steven Spielberg masterpiece). However, there is some structure found in select subplots, watching feelings develop between Simon and Stephanie, who has trouble dealing with his ego, but remains impressed with his confidence. Showing signs of illness, Stephanie soon has to rely on Simon’s undeveloped authority as she falls apart. The saga of Sal’s secret admittance into City Hospital is also tracked during the movie, offering the sight of Elizondo in drag as Angelo goes undercover as “Angela” to keep a low profile as he sneaks his father into an empty bed. On their trail is an assassin who accidentally assumes the identity of a deathly ill patient, allowing Richards to exercise his physical comedy gifts as the killer is subjected to tests and drug-induced paralysis.

“Young Doctors in Love” is episodic and rarely offers bellylaughs, showing a preference for lame ideas such as Dr. Oliver (Harry Dean Stanton), a pathology expert who chooses to taste bodily fluids to diagnose issues, passing around a cup of urine for the interns to sample. The intent appears to lampoon the world of daytime soaps, offering cameos from a few of the stars of the day, but the heightened melodramatics the television genre is known for aren’t pronounced, with Marshall more invested in making an average comedy than a true satire with big emotions and broad performances. Fans of “Airplane” might also walk away from the feature disappointed, as the same speedy goofballery doesn’t register here. “Young Doctors in Love” actually plays more like a hospital procedural at times, not exactly going straight with patient interactions, but certainly manic energy and deadpan gold is missing. Marshall seems afraid to fully inspect the possibilities of the material, playing it safe for the most part, though he does have a flavorful cast to help him along, with Coleman killing in the rattled authoritarian role, and McKean shines in a rare appearance as a leading man, keeping Simon a complex balance of arrogance and vulnerability, especially around Stephanie.

Young Doctors in Love Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation doesn't represent a recent scan of "Young Doctors in Love," and age is apparent, also showcasing mild filtering. Clarity isn't strong and detail suffers, softening busy slapstick choreography, hospital signage, and facial textures. Color is slightly faded but primaries are satisfactory, with bright reds and blues, while the general appearance of the hospital remains appealing, surveying green displays, yellow urine, and silver tools. Skintones are pinkish. Delineation is adequate but largely unchallenged. Grain is chunky. Source is loaded with speckling, but more pronounced passages of damage are not encountered.

Young Doctors in Love Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix supports the comedic tone of "Young Doctors in Love," offering clear dialogue exchanges that preserve thespian emphasis and intent. Performances come through nicely, even during lively group activity, capturing pleasing separation. Scoring needs are met, secured through adequate instrumentation, selling the silliness and the satire. Atmospherics are appealing, creating a feel for hospital bustle as patient agitation, medical machines, and crowds compete for background space.

Young Doctors in Love Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features actor/filmmaker Pat Healy and film curator Jim Healy.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Young Doctors in Love Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Young Doctors in Love" offers a few interesting sights, including early appearances from Richard Dean Anderson and Demi Moore, a host of additional Spielberg references, and fun period references, including Nurse Norine looking to a young Brooke Shields for fashion and make-up guidance as she seeks to impress a suitor. Brief moments are the only highlights of "Young Doctors in Love," with Marshall coming up with a few amusing ideas, but there's nothing here that carries for a sustained amount of time. It's professionally put together, cast well, and certainly timed during an era where silly was back in style, but there's inertia and flatness that Marshall doesn't conquer, showing hesitation with material that should never pump the brakes.