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The Movie Doctors
The surgery is now open...For over a decade, Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode have been sharing their film expertise with each other (and occasionally the odd listener) on the airwaves. Now they are donning their surgical scrubs and bringing their unique blend of deep movie knowledge and medical ignorance to their new guise as the Movie Doctors. Mayo and Kermode are armed and ready to offer improbable cinematic cures for the dilemmas of modern life. Suffering with insomnia and need a cinematic alternative to counting sheep? The Movie Doctors prescribe The Piano. Tinnitus driving you up the wall? A dose of Interstellar can help. Stressed and anxious? The Big Lebowski is what you need. If you're feeling your age, look no further than The Godfather. And what about movies themselves? Doctors Mayo and Kermode are also taking their scalpel to 'sick' movies, dissecting the perils of excessive length, the ill effects of glowing praise and warning how cosmetic surgery can change the face of a film. Celluloid or humanoid, the Movie Doctors are here to help.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2015
33 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Simon Mayo
25 books213 followersSimon started work in Hospital radio and later became a Dj on BBC radio 1 and later on BBC radio 2.
His series 'Itch' is closely related to best selling series such as Alex Rider & Jason Steed. Also written by British authors.
Simon was recognised as the Radio Broadcaster of the Year at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards in 2008, and has won several Sony Awards for his work in radio.
His series 'Itch' is closely related to best selling series such as Alex Rider & Jason Steed. Also written by British authors.
Simon was recognised as the Radio Broadcaster of the Year at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards in 2008, and has won several Sony Awards for his work in radio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 19, 2017
Lightweight collection of movie opinions. The best parts are easily Mark Kermode's essays on specific subjects, such as why Heaven's Gate was such a disaster. Here his knowledge and enthusiasm shines through. By contrast the whole "pretending to doctors and prescribing films like medicine" is a laboured joke that quickly runs out of steam. The transcripts of imagined conversations are not very wittertaining either. Whilst the mini-reviews are fine to dip into, this largely a failed attempt to transfer the cult radio show to the page.
June 12, 2017
I adore Mark Kermode and appointed him as the Banarama-loving moral compass of my life when I was but a youngster, so I know full well he can do much better: a book with three co-writers and several magazine-style filler sections on matters such as the best sunglasses in films felt a little inessential. Simon Mayo is always funny, so it was still a jolly read when I was too tired for anything more weighty, but on the whole this was a bit disappointing.
July 31, 2020
Got given this for Christmas in 2018 (I think?) and it's very much a Christmas book. Pretty insubstantial, the gimmick doesn't really add much, and the sections that try to replicate Kermode and Mayo's on-air rapport don't really work. There's still some good stuff, mostly in the more long-form essay segments, but I didn't get much out of this. The person who bought me it doesn't have Goodreads so don't worry about them being offended.
February 11, 2018
It made me practically weep with pleasure that after wading through tar for the last three weeks trying to get to the end of my previous book, this has taken me less than 24 hours to finish. That’s not to say it’s a great book, it’s a bit of a mishmash to be honest and the attempts at comedic interludes fall very flat indeed.
However the longer pieces on film history (which I assume were written by Mark Kermode) are more entertaining than anything written by him in his previous three books.
I would class this as a pretty decent “toilet book” not very challenging and mildly entertaining. Just one thing though, it’s not clear to me what sort of input Simon Mayo had in this book. There are a couple of co-writers who aren’t credited on the front cover but are referred to inside and it would be interesting to know how much of the book they had “ghost written”.
However the longer pieces on film history (which I assume were written by Mark Kermode) are more entertaining than anything written by him in his previous three books.
I would class this as a pretty decent “toilet book” not very challenging and mildly entertaining. Just one thing though, it’s not clear to me what sort of input Simon Mayo had in this book. There are a couple of co-writers who aren’t credited on the front cover but are referred to inside and it would be interesting to know how much of the book they had “ghost written”.
December 8, 2019
It was entertainingly laid out and a fun read. Not detailed, but inspiring for finding a film of a certian type. I enjoyed this book.
February 17, 2016
I have to admit that I was very skeptical about the Movie Doctors book as I worried it might have been a shameless cash-in that you often see thrown into the TV and Film sections in Waterstones, luckily, this wasn't the case after all. The Movie Doctors is a very readable and engaging book, the premise: where the our two "doctors" prescribe movies instead of medicine for a wide array of ailments and illnesses, movie for the broken-hearted, for the insomniacs, etc (obviously in a light hearted manner!). The premise for me is a bit gimmicky and doesn't always seem to work, and some of the chapters seem like they really stray from the core idea, chapters on X-Rays and Patient Transport did seem a bit of a stretch.
However, I did enjoy some of the factual information that Mark and Simon provide for us, some of this information is anecdotal and really adds a personal touch, there's some great stuff of Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate fiasco and an interesting appraisal of love/hate director John Boorman. The book is peppered with comedy "appointments" with the two doctors which seemed a bit out of place as I think Mark and Simon aren't comedy writers but more funny men whose witty conversational banter and "odd couple" pairing makes the 5 Live show so popular.
The book is presented well and some of reproduced stills are of excellent quality, the best that I have ever seen in a film book. Overall, I enjoyed the book and read it at an alarming rate, though I'd have to admit I'd much prefer to read a book just about movies written by the two doctors, I love Mark's books and was slightly disappointed by the broad nature of the book. I would have loved to have seen a book where the two debated about their favorite/hated movies (maybe The Exorcist vs. Amadeus).
However, I did enjoy some of the factual information that Mark and Simon provide for us, some of this information is anecdotal and really adds a personal touch, there's some great stuff of Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate fiasco and an interesting appraisal of love/hate director John Boorman. The book is peppered with comedy "appointments" with the two doctors which seemed a bit out of place as I think Mark and Simon aren't comedy writers but more funny men whose witty conversational banter and "odd couple" pairing makes the 5 Live show so popular.
The book is presented well and some of reproduced stills are of excellent quality, the best that I have ever seen in a film book. Overall, I enjoyed the book and read it at an alarming rate, though I'd have to admit I'd much prefer to read a book just about movies written by the two doctors, I love Mark's books and was slightly disappointed by the broad nature of the book. I would have loved to have seen a book where the two debated about their favorite/hated movies (maybe The Exorcist vs. Amadeus).
March 10, 2018
I am a recent convert to the Church of Wittertainment aka Kermode and Mayo's Film Review podcast. (A travesty for a Film Studies graduate, class of 2008) But now that I have started to become a regular listener, it was with glee that I sought out this book, their collaborative work on the joy of cinema.
It was quite different from what I was expecting and I found it a tiny bit lacking, but not by much. It is a brilliantly comically work, capturing their unique wit and splicing it with essays on lots of different areas of film and cinema which I found fascinating. This book and their podcast has made me realise that I have lost touch with one of the loves of my life, film. As an eagar 17 year, I was such a film nerd, becoming a self confessed expert on Hitchcock and French cinema (spoiler alert, upon closer examination I had a middling amount of knowledge on both but the absolute confidence of the late teenager would argue with you vehemently if you hinted at this).
Anyway, what I mean to say is my love of Film was all consuming, my first job was at a cinema, I spent all my money on DVDs and went on to make it the subject of half my degree (History was the other half...in case my other book choices so far have not reflected that). But after leaving Uni, reality came crashing in and I lost touch with cinema. No longer was I the girl who had seen everything in the multiplex and arthouse, and reading this book has made me realise that I miss that girl.
Film is an amazing art form, so thank you Movie Doctors for restoring me to health. Right, where are you Netflix, we have unfinished business.
It was quite different from what I was expecting and I found it a tiny bit lacking, but not by much. It is a brilliantly comically work, capturing their unique wit and splicing it with essays on lots of different areas of film and cinema which I found fascinating. This book and their podcast has made me realise that I have lost touch with one of the loves of my life, film. As an eagar 17 year, I was such a film nerd, becoming a self confessed expert on Hitchcock and French cinema (spoiler alert, upon closer examination I had a middling amount of knowledge on both but the absolute confidence of the late teenager would argue with you vehemently if you hinted at this).
Anyway, what I mean to say is my love of Film was all consuming, my first job was at a cinema, I spent all my money on DVDs and went on to make it the subject of half my degree (History was the other half...in case my other book choices so far have not reflected that). But after leaving Uni, reality came crashing in and I lost touch with cinema. No longer was I the girl who had seen everything in the multiplex and arthouse, and reading this book has made me realise that I miss that girl.
Film is an amazing art form, so thank you Movie Doctors for restoring me to health. Right, where are you Netflix, we have unfinished business.
August 12, 2018
A mixture of weak listicles & comedy pieces, but generally decent essays.
The medical theme didn't really work for me, and just felt like a gimmick to drive some of the less interesting material. Overall, it's an easy enough read, but it feels like something that was churned out for the Xmas present buying market, rather than a serious contribution to film literature.
I'd recommend picking up Kermode's solo book Hatchet Job over this.
The medical theme didn't really work for me, and just felt like a gimmick to drive some of the less interesting material. Overall, it's an easy enough read, but it feels like something that was churned out for the Xmas present buying market, rather than a serious contribution to film literature.
I'd recommend picking up Kermode's solo book Hatchet Job over this.
December 10, 2017
I loved the longer-form essays - I wish that was the whole book. The rest was fun but pretty lightweight. I'll always read stuff by Mayo & Kermode though.
December 5, 2025
You very much have to dip in and out of this. Its best parts are the extended essays, which display erudition and affection (e.g. interference to insist on happier movie endings, the idea of projectionists as cinema’s GPs, how excessive praise can derail directors, and the idea of censorship as framed around preventing’ moral ‘infection’). The rest is framed around a medical shtick, with ‘General Surgery’ referring to editing/cuts. Much of it reads like a series of magazine articles, which are hit and miss (e.g. movies to be prescribed if you want to be up or down). There’s plenty of interesting factoids (e.g. the pacemaker was actually inspired by the 1931 Frankenstein), if consumed in small doses.
June 25, 2017
Fun, funny, informative, irreverent and fascinating.
I love movies, and share much of the opinions expressed by "Drs" Mayo and Kermode, so this was always going to be a book for me to enjoy. There's just the right mix of flippant humour, quirky factoids and interesting trivia to keep the reader entertained. Some of the info wasn't new to me as a movie buff, but enough of it was to justify its purchase.
I love movies, and share much of the opinions expressed by "Drs" Mayo and Kermode, so this was always going to be a book for me to enjoy. There's just the right mix of flippant humour, quirky factoids and interesting trivia to keep the reader entertained. Some of the info wasn't new to me as a movie buff, but enough of it was to justify its purchase.
January 12, 2024
Wouldn’t recommend reading this on Kindle - the paragraphs get chaotic, the images are hard to view.
Not really sure what’s the purpose of the book, it briefly describes many movie, contains spoilers, and the worst of all, it seems to take pride in proposing you a lot of shitty movies with explanation why you shouldn’t watch them! There were few paragraphs with interesting stories, like Micheal Cimino story, I wish the books was more focused on that kind of content.
Not really sure what’s the purpose of the book, it briefly describes many movie, contains spoilers, and the worst of all, it seems to take pride in proposing you a lot of shitty movies with explanation why you shouldn’t watch them! There were few paragraphs with interesting stories, like Micheal Cimino story, I wish the books was more focused on that kind of content.
May 15, 2025
Take my review with a grain of salt: I've been listening to the podcast of the good doctors in its various incarnations for two decades and can hardly be called objective. Those of you who are also part of the church won't find anything new in here, but it does feel like coming home. Mark referencing The Exorcist whenever he can, Simon singing the praises of Amadeus, the bashing of Sex and the City 2 and Michael Bay, what's not to love?
August 14, 2025
I picked this up from a charity shop as I’m a big fan of Kermode and Mayo. Unfortunately this book wasn’t great. Though there are some good stories in there about classic films, the format becomes tedious and for every good story or piece of analysis, there’s loads of filler.
The biggest positive of the book is that was able to add a load of films (which were mentioned in the book) to my IMDb watchlist.
The biggest positive of the book is that was able to add a load of films (which were mentioned in the book) to my IMDb watchlist.
July 12, 2020
Funny and irreverent look at what movies provide for us in terms of our emotions. The book is split into chapters of departments that are contained within a hospital such as paediatrics and geriatrics. Kermode and mayo inject humour into every word whilst also writing some good essays on the horror genre and soundtracks amongst others. Well worth a look.
February 8, 2021
Love their podcast, so got gifted this and it’s pretty good! A little bit judgmental at times (and an almost boringly repetitive slander of the Kardashians) but there are some great facts in this book.
The best thing? You can really hear their voices coming through their writing and it’s wonderful - like a long letter from friends.
The best thing? You can really hear their voices coming through their writing and it’s wonderful - like a long letter from friends.
February 17, 2023
Yeah, not that great. Not awful, but extraordinarily lightweight. There are half a dozen decent essays by Mark Kermode that each cover ten pages or so that make the book worth the purchase price, just (it was a gift) :D But the bulk of the book just consists of rubbish jokes and a ropey Hospital theme that runs out of steam VERY VERY quickly.
October 6, 2017
Simon Mayo joins Dr. Kermode in the literary fun as they categorize films according to irreverent interpretations of modern medicine. More aphoristic than Dr K's earlier tomes, but still great fun as a compendium of tongue-in-cheek reviews.
August 25, 2021
A thoroughly enjoyable read, especially for film buffs/ film students.
The Movies Doctors delivers facts and stories about the industry as a whole as well as single productions and actores, while maintaining a comedic light heartedness about it.
Education through humour.
The Movies Doctors delivers facts and stories about the industry as a whole as well as single productions and actores, while maintaining a comedic light heartedness about it.
Education through humour.
August 19, 2017
A quick light read, more on the wittering side of film discussion. Passed the three laugh test. HTJI.
January 1, 2018
Some interesting essays. Rest of the book is rather awkward and the overall concept doesn't really work.
January 25, 2018
Not as good as Kermode's standalone efforts. Maybe the audiobook version is better, but this felt like a flawed attempt to cash in on Kermode and Mayo's on-air chemistry.
February 18, 2018
A perfect tonic for when you are feeling down. The warmth and humour radiates from every page. How do you enjoy The Movie Doctors? You just enjoy The Movie Doctors
October 14, 2018
Expected a lot better. Felt pointless.
January 21, 2019
Why wouldn't you read several episodes of Wittertainment in book form? Not revolutionary perhaps, but fun and frivolous, with some interesting essays thrown in for good measure.
February 11, 2019
A very entertaining and amusing read, with a novel approach to movie trivia, spanning a range of popular and less-well-known movies. This is the book Den of Geek's Movie Geek wishes it was.
May 19, 2020
Extremely witty, with a encyclopaedic knowledge of film told in such a fun and humoured fashion. Classic Kermode and Mayo.
December 27, 2020
50/50 mix of interesting essays and light facts. Essays better part of book
March 23, 2021
Fun, themed book cut up enough to dip into to. If you've listened to their show for long enough you will have heard it all though.
April 5, 2021
The format doesn't really work but there are great parts. The sections on Heaven's Gate and why Quentin Tarrantinos films are far too long are excellent.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews