Another vomit-inducing sentimental comedy-drama from Robin Williams ensured that I avoided Patch Adams like the black death when it was released. Williams can do serious acting reasonably well,as many comedians seem able to for some strange reason, but since starting in serious acting the syrup content of the films he's been in has gradually increased until there's so much, everything drips along like a cheap, overused metaphor. Marc Shaiman is not unaccustomed to scoring such films and yet again he's done another sterling effort, even though I suspect that it made the film seem even more child-like and gooey eyed than it already was.
After half an hour of songs which are variable from bad to worse, Shaiman's brief (25 minutes or there about) of score take hold. The main theme is a very typical Shaiman theme that reminds me of something else, but I can't think what. However, it's quite memorable and rather lovely and used just enough times to sink in before the running time has expired. The occasional hint of Randy Newman bitter-sweet harmony helps to avoid it being totally sickly, but probably not quite enough for many people's liking. The one curiosity is The Ruling - Graduation which starts in a very similar fashion to Thomas Newman's Little Women end title cue, Under the Umbrella. However, Newman's cut glass orchestrations are eschewed in favour of a more wholesome Shaiman Shaiman arrangement that builds the music up to something much more over the top and rapturous.
One of those albums that is difficult to recommend, the songs aren't strong enough to be able to recommend the whole thing. Shaiman's score is very pleasant, tuneful and occasionally stirring, but somewhat brief and perhaps not different enough from some of his other scores in a similar genre. However if one was to stumble across it for a slightly marked down price then recommendation is much easier and almost certainly unlikely to disappoint anyone who buys Marc Shaiman scores knowing exactly what to expect.
Rating ~ 
Total Time ~ 57:19