Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
A successful Texas gynecologist finds himself amid a bevy of women and their problems – his wife’s breakdown, his daughter's fake marriage, his other daughter’s conspiracy theories, and his secretary’s crush. Craving time for himself, he finds solace in a kind outsider.
Robert Altman's ensemble piece has his signature overlapping-dialogue style and a strong cast led by Richard Gere, but the film feels somewhat unfocused and meandering. The satirical premise—a gynecologist surrounded by chaotic women—has Altman's trademark sprawl but lacks the sharp coherence of his best work. Acting is solid across the board with Helen Hunt, Farrah Fawcett, and Laura Dern adding texture, though the material doesn't always serve them well. The cinematography carries Altman's casual observational quality. The ending, involving a surreal tornado sequence, feels abrupt and divisive rather than satisfying, landing as more baffling than resonant. Novelty is modest—it's Altman doing Altman in Dallas—distinctive in execution but not among his most original conceits.