Trust Me, I’m a Doctor (2026) Written Review
Do you remember all the controversy around the death of Anna Nicole Smith? This was one of the biggest scandals of the 00s as Smith died so young (along with her son) and there were plenty of fingers being pointed around. There were plenty of people around her inner circle who saw her spiraling while either enabling or ignoring. But one such person who got pulled into the trials around Smith’s death was Dr. Sandeep Kapoor. Kal Penn stars as Kapoor as he fights in the courtroom to save his dignity, honor, and wallet. Writer/director Thane Economou brings Kapoor’s story to life and explores this wild situation that caught the imaginations of many.
Does Economou’s screenplay (adapted from Kapoor’s own memoirs) make most of this wild story? Smith was a woman who had many people taking advantage of her and plenty of cronies to fill out her entourage. Kapoor is a gay man who finds himself in company of plenty of frustrating folks who are trying to get their piece of her fortune. The film is generally a straightforward legal drama that has a little bit of a nonlinear twist on it. This is not an essential choice for making the narrative function, but it does provide the film with a little bit of flair. Economou injects a few moments of meta-commentary which seems to be a popular mechanism for films like this one. The film paints Smith as a tragic figure and Kapoor as an individual who was acting earnestly and was just attempting to be supportive of her (before she died). The dramatic structure of the film comes from all the people who are willing to lie about Kapoor’s involvement which makes for plenty of frustratingly effective dramatic beats. This is a solid story of identity, human connection, and the corruption of fame. The story plays out in expected ways, but it is at least quite entertaining to experience.
Does Economou deliver some engaging filmmaking from behind the camera? This is not the flashiest of films but there are some solid bits of personality that give the experience some flair. The pacing of the film is engaging as close to two hours of runtime go by quite smoothly. The film has a decent sense of humor that keeps the proceedings quite entertaining and engaging. But Economou finds a decent amount of emotion at times as well, especially when processing the death of Smith’s son and the emotional devastation that followed. From a visual standpoint, the film has a standard modern atmosphere. Sleek and digital. There is not a lot from a technical standpoint that makes this film stand out. But Economou delivers this story in a package that is watchable and entertaining.
How do Kal Penn and the rest of the cast bring this story to life? Penn’s lisp for the role is quite the clear choice, but he imbues this character of Kapoor with authenticity that it never feels like a caricature. Penn’s performance certainly finds the correct gear to build empathy. There are a few added dimensions that Penn delivers upon that make the central turn so effective. There are a few emotional beats that Penn feels so genuine. Then there are a few moments of arrogance which Penn feels natural crafting, but he balances keeping this character empathetic while also not being a perfect man. One of the biggest asks in the film is having an actor bring Smith to life and Abbie Cornish delivers quite effectively. She is charismatic and alluring. You get all the specific personality traits while humanizing her as well. Cornish does a great job for her limited amount of screenplay. Linda Hamilton is a pleasant surprise as Kapoor’s lawyer as she gets to play a character outside the realm of action stars or military characters. She is still tough and Hamilton brings a presence that makes her appearance memorable, and it could have easily just been a throwaway character bogged down by expositional dialogue.
Is this film a worthwhile experience inside this controversial period of celebrity? Economou is never able to get this film to feel like an essential and powerful experience. But this film certainly is an entertaining experience that brings you in and drops you into the mindboggling case around Dr. Kapoor. Penn and Cornish deliver a pair of memorable turns while creating a funny and engaging experience.
Leave a Reply