Mumford (1999)

56% of critics liked it
(77 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(5,660 ratings)

Lawrence Kasdan wrote and directed this comedy about a young psychologist named Mumford (Loren Dean), who arrives in a small town and sets up a practice. Mumford's style is short on analytic mumbo-jumbo and long on practical advice, and he soon finds that he has a long list of satisfied clients in… More Lawrence Kasdan wrote and directed this comedy about a young psychologist named Mumford (Loren Dean), who arrives in a small town and sets up a practice. Mumford's style is short on analytic mumbo-jumbo and long on practical advice, and he soon finds that he has a long list of satisfied clients in his new home town, including many of the city's most prominent citizens. Mumford's advice also helps love bloom among the city's single residents. However, the city already had a psychologist, Ernest Delbanco (David Paymer), who is quickly losing business to Mumford. So Ernest starts asking questions: who is this Mumford, and just what are his qualifications? Mumford's supporting cast includes Ted Danson, Martin Short, Alfre Woodard, Hope Davis, Jason Lee, and Pruitt Taylor Vince. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 58 min.
Directed By: Lawrence Kasdan
Written By: Lawrence Kasdan
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 24, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Apr 17, 2001
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
It turns the tricks of psychology into duplicitous high play.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
Imperfect.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Director Lawrence Kasdan's Mumford blends likable characters with a humorous, gentle look at small town life.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
Neither funny, heart-warming nor star-powered enough to motivate the public to turn out in very large numbers.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
The performances are disarming and Mumford is the kind of comedy that grows on you if you give it a chance.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
This film is smart, but also entertaining -- made to go with popcorn, a cola and, well, Prozac.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Great characters, but for older teens and up.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Mumford may look okay on your television some dead afternoon, but it isn't a movie.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
... it ends up being little more than a mellow tour of quirky characters that are better as representatives of different personality types than actual characters we believe in.
James Rocchi, Netflix
Director Lawrence Kasdan's small-town fable beguiles.
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
A film without conviction, about a town full of people with problems without depth, aided by a guru without soul.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...comes through with an affable simplicity that is hard to resist.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

This quiet charmer of a piece by Lawrence Kasdan posits, like the old Bacherach number suggests, " what the world needs now is love,sweet love". Loren Dean is perfectly cast as the unassuming and sedate soul prepared to hear whatever it is one might have to say ... only who… More
This quiet charmer of a piece by Lawrence Kasdan posits, like the old Bacherach number suggests, " what the world needs now is love,sweet love". Loren Dean is perfectly cast as the unassuming and sedate soul prepared to hear whatever it is one might have to say ... only who is he exactly? Don't let this underrated bit of old style whimsy pass you by.
Aaron N

Mrs. Crisp: What kind of doctor are you? Dr. Mumford: Ph.D. in psychology. Mrs. Crisp: Oh. Not a real doctor. Dr. Mumford: That's right, the fake kind. Here's a funny little comedy involving an easy to get along with shrink, living in a small town filled with a bunch of… More
Mrs. Crisp: What kind of doctor are you? Dr. Mumford: Ph.D. in psychology. Mrs. Crisp: Oh. Not a real doctor. Dr. Mumford: That's right, the fake kind. Here's a funny little comedy involving an easy to get along with shrink, living in a small town filled with a bunch of quirky people who like to talk to him. Loren Dean is Dr. Mumford. You may not have heard that name before, but he's in a bunch of movies, usually in those small character roles that are filled appropriately. The story revolves around Mumford and his patients, how he gets by, and an eventual twist in the story. The film was written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan, who among other things, was a screenwriter for two Star Wars films, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and a number of other films usually very character based. The man knows what he is doing. The movie features an ensemble cast that includes the always reliable Jason Lee, Ted Danson, Martin Short, David Paymer, Alfre Woodward, Hope Davis, and Zooey Deschanel. Each of these people all have there own things going on, but they are all entertaining characters. Lee's character for example is a normal guy who created a piece of technology and is now one of the richest guys in the country. But, he's lonely and has his own way of trying to please himself. This whole movie is very simple, but funny, and likable, like the town that they all live in. Skip Skipperton: Do you know how I spend my every single solitary moment? Dr. Mumford: Jerking off? Skip Skipperton: No, that's a good guess though!
Michael G

A lot better than I thought it would be.
Leigh R

I think this is so adorably cute.
Emily A

I like this movie and I don't know why. Everyone in this town is so screwed up, and you get to see what Jason Lee did before he became an actor.
Bill C

psychologist impersonator heal thyself. If it doesn’t play in Peoria … I really love this movie because all the character are people you would meet walking down main street America. Each character is even more likable than the rest. Mumford escapes the big city and big city attitude… More
psychologist impersonator heal thyself. If it doesn’t play in Peoria … I really love this movie because all the character are people you would meet walking down main street America. Each character is even more likable than the rest. Mumford escapes the big city and big city attitude for small town hypochondria. I’ve not scene such an in depth view of middle America since Talking heads “True Stories” Yes people are as neurotic as Woody Allen in other places other than New York. I really love how he reaches (kinda self serving and voyeuristically) into other peoples lives in a since to reach his own karmic balance. Definitely reaching out to help other people to help himself this movie is the anti- serotonin up take inhibitor advertisement. If you know what that sentence mean you in all probability will not really get into the concept of this movie.
Anthony V

Not Lawrence Kasdan's shining moment, but one of the better of his more recent films.
Leo L

A great movie.