AllMovie

Clearly derived from the hit television series Northern Exposure (itself inspired by the charming 1983 comedy Local Hero), this pre-programmed comedy adheres slavishly to the same doctor-out-of-his-urban-element formula. Although lead Michael J. Fox does his best to amp up the energy level, he basically portrays the exact character he explored for seven years on TV's Family Ties. While the team of screenwriters behind this cornpone comedy has peopled the rural burg with some interesting characters (their country folk aren't just simple bumpkins, at least not all of them), they don't do anything particularly believable with their supporting cast, wasting the effort they've made. A discernible lack of chemistry between Fox and female lead Julie Warner, Woody Harrelson turning up as a variation on his empty-headed character from Cheers, and a predictable 11th-hour conversion of the soul for the film's hero, add up to an experience lacking in originality, without much to distinguish this project from a made-for-TV movie. Doc Hollywood is light romantic comedy with the emphasis so much on light that there's not much here to savor.