Heartwarming / Mrs. Doubtfire

• The Closing Monologue Daniel gives as Mrs. Doubtfire in response to a letter from a little girl whose parents have split up:
  Mrs. Doubtfire: Oh, my dear Katie. You know, some parents, when they're angry, they get along much better when they don't live together. They don't fight all the time, and they can become better people, and much better mummies and daddies for you. And sometimes they get back together. And sometimes they don't, dear. And if they don't, don't blame yourself. Just because they don't love each other anymore, doesn't mean that they don't love you. There are all sorts of different families, Katie. Some families have one mommy, some families have one daddy, or two families. And some children live with their uncle or aunt. Some live with their grandparents, and some children live with foster parents. And some live in separate homes, in separate neighborhoods, in different areas of the country - and they may not see each other for days, or weeks, months... even years at a time. But if there's love, dear... those are the ties that bind, and you'll have a family in your heart, forever. All my love to you poppet, you're going to be alright... bye bye.
  • All while Miranda watches, with teary eyes.
• Remember the horrendously boring professor talking about dinosaurs? The one that the boss wanted to get rid of, for dragging down the whole afternoon lineup? Well Daniel must have talked the boss into keeping him around, because at the end, he's seen on Mrs. Doubtfire's show as "Mr. Sprinkles", the friendly mailman! Every episode, he brings mail from the viewers.
  • That certainly brings the McFeels.
  • Daniel knows what it's like to lose a job because you aren't what the higher-ups want, what with him quitting for not wanting to promote smoking, so he probably made sure that the guy had a part so he wouldn't have to go through what Daniel had to go through. And in all honesty in the brief moment you see him as "Mr. Sprinkles" he seems to be enjoying his new role.
• Despite all the issues involving their parents, the children stay close.
• The absolutely magnificent candlelight dinner Daniel prepares for the family on his first full day as Mrs. Doubtfire. He had to do some quick thinking owing to his lack of cooking ability, but despite the close calls he's able to greet Miranda to a spotless home and a great meal to cap off the evening. Lydia notes that it's the happiest she'd ever seen her mother in what feels like forever, and Daniel is quite touched when he hears it from her.
• The bus driver is kind of played for laughs with how he hits on Mrs. Doubtfire and doesn't realize it's a man underneath, but he seems like a sweet guy. This especially comes through in this dialogue:
  Mrs. Doubtfire: He broke the mold when he made me, dear. He made me very special.
  Bus driver: He sure did.
  • The bus driver returns in a deleted scene where a drunk/tired Daniel tells him that he is really a man after the driver tries to ask him out. The bus driver barely bats an eye, compliments him, and wishes him the best of luck.
• While it's diminished by calling Daniel a loser immediately afterwards, Stu telling his friend that he's crazy about Miranda's kids as well as her is really sweet, especially considering that the script originally had him wanting to send them off to boarding school.
  • Even Stu calling Daniel a loser is heartwarming, in a certain sense, given that he hasn't met Daniel and has probably only heard Miranda's side of things. It comes off as him imagining Daniel a much worse person because he's become protective of the kids and views Daniel as having hurt them through the actions that led to the Hillards' divorce.
  • Stu only makes the comment to his friend where the kids can't hear him. Daniel and Miranda both take shots at each other in front of their kids but Stu at least tries to keep his opinion away from them. It also shows that Stu understands that it's a difficult time for the kids and he's trying to be as patient as possible with them, not forcing them to accept him as their stepfather or belittling their father to curry favor with them.
  • While he's technically the romantic rival, Stu is also portrayed as a decent guy throughout. He's genuinely sympathetic to Miranda after the split from Daniel, he adores the kids, especially Natalie, and speaks about wanting to settle down and have a family. He's also very nice to Mrs Doubtfire.
• Stu gratefully shaking Daniel's hand after the Heimlich.
• It's not focused on, and is Played for Laughs besides, but Daniel's relationship with his brother Frank is shown to be very close and supportive. It's Frank he goes to for support when the divorce happens, he goes to Frank to create Mrs. Doubtfire both because of his skills and the fact that he would offer his support in "being a woman" (It's played for laughs, but said scene really looks like Frank is believing that Daniel's coming out as transgender), and, despite having very different temperaments, they're also quite in sync with each other, as shown with the sudden impromptu "Matchmaker" moment. Also — remembering that this is the '90's — Daniel never gives Frank grief for being openly gay, apart from a very mild and rather lighthearted joke. It's even more heartwarming, when Frank tells Daniel: "you're my brother; I will never let you be embarrassed" and Frank and Jack's relationship is treated as perfectly normal by everyone and the film doesn't make a big deal out of it either, treating them like any other couple and showing them as having a happy and healthy relationship.
  Frank: (critiquing the amount of makeup Jack is adding to a mask) Enough already, it's a man.
  Jack: (cattily) How would you know?
  Frank: (under his breath) Bitch.
  Jack: (gives Frank a small teasing smile and goes back to work)
  • Similarly, their unseen mother Evelyn, while implied to be overbearing, does love both of her sons very much, has a close relationship with Frank and is completely accepting of his sexuality and relationship, despite being in her mid-sixties at least, and she also likes and gets along with his partner Jack, who likes Evelyn in return, even providing her with make-up.
  • When Daniel's secret is found out by Lydia and Chris, he refers to 'Uncle Frank and Aunt Jack' as the ones who helped him pull it off, meaning the kids actually know who they are and are implied to be on good terms with them. Considering how uptight Miranda is about so many things, it's nice to know she didn't push Daniel's 'unusual' family members away from their kids.
  • The final scene has Mrs Doubtfire say that the next episode of the show will have Frank come on to teach kids about his work as a make-up artist. It's a nice touch that shows that Daniel is grateful for all his brother did for him and is happy to share his success.

---