D

Doc Hollywood (1991)

Rated: PG-13

104 Minutes

Directed by Michael Caton-Jones (The Jackal, Rob Roy, and The Boy's Life)

Budget - $17,000,000

Box Office - $54,000,000


Reasons that it's a Frank Movie:

1.  Woody Harrelson + Bridget Fonda = Frank Movie.  You just have to know that.

For me, this is Harrelson's best role as insurance salesman, Hank Gordon.  Although Harrelson is a Texan, he seems very plausible as an Upstater in The Palmetto State.
  Here's a good dialogue with Fox, although the scene where they meet in the diner is better:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlf9BZiL57Y

2.  Great 80's theme song.

Top Gun.  Karate Kid.  The Breakfast Club.  These all had iconic theme songs.  But, "I Am The One and Only" may be better than all of them, and it is so unheralded.  Play it, it'll haunt your dreams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoA89ACTflk

For the record, that is my hometown of Richmond, VA that Dr. Ben Stone is driving through.

3.  Small-town U.S.A.

It may be hard to imagine, but, like Ben Stone, I'm a small-town guy (Lively, VA).  I have lived all over this great nation, and one thing I know - her small towns are all alike, and the things that make her great.  The characters represented in Grady, are very archetypical of the characters that I grew up with, and am surrounded by today.  I love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7oOqDUXzDY

For the record, I'm not the only one who loves this film a little too much:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WmgEd4uavI

For the most part, Roger Ebert agreed with me:

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/doc-hollywood-1991


Runner-up:  Drive Me Crazy (1999)

Reasons that it's a Frank Movie:

1.  Teen angst + definitive generational movie.  This is The Breakfast Club of The Millennials.  Plus, Vincent Chase gets dumped by Whipped Cream Bikini and falls for Sabrina the Teenage Witch.  And they all get hammered.  Perfect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=326hheVVhx4


2.  The Donna's (nee The Electrocutes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0yleULPsq4


Honorable Mentions:  Donnie Brasco (1997), Dazed and Confused (1993), Dream A Little Dream (1989)