Mrs. Doubtfire: Nonverbal Communication

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The presence of nonverbal messages in our communication is very important. Following the text, researchers have estimated it is up to “65 percent of social meaning we convey in face-to-face interactions is a result of nonverbal behavior” (131). The movie “Mrs. Doubtfire” is a typical example about the interactions among characters, also with audience. Several scenes in this movie show us the effects of nonverbal messages in communication, especially through the character Daniel, who disguises himself as a middle-aged British nanny in order to be near his children. The most attracted scene in the movie is when the song “Dude Looks like a Lady” is played. The sentence “Dude looks like a lady” is repeated many times, which implies a certain …show more content…

They affect other’s perception. Frank and Jack are really successful in dressing up and makeup for Daniel. He completely becomes a new gender, a British old lady, with skirt and cardigan. This detail is considered a type of nonverbal communication, Daniel changes his physical appearance as a self-presentation cue so that his wife could not recognize his identity, trust him and let him take care the kids as a housekeeper (143). Clothing is also a comedy factor in this movie. Daniel is recognized by the two boys next door while he is trying to put his costume on, they laugh at him and think he is sick. On another scene, the outlook of Mrs. Doubtfire presents an image which is she is an old, weak woman, so the robber definitely believes that he can easily get the bag from her (135). However, the robber does not aware of who he is dealing with. In my opinion, I really enjoyed the scene when Mrs. Doubtfire and the social worker are in his apartment. Mrs. Sellner inspects carefully while Daniel frantically tries to undress from his costume, and he breaks the tension with some comic relief about the mouse trap. "If you wanted some cheese why didn't you just say so?" The humor does not stop, it comes again when Mrs. Doubtfire’s face is covered by cream. I was surprised when I saw that face. It is really funny when frosting keeps dropping down off his face into the tea cup in front of Mrs.

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