Nerdly » ‘Doctor Who Am I’ Review

20th Sep2022

‘Doctor Who Am I’ Review

by Alain Elliott

Features: Matthew Jacobs, Paul McGann, Eric Roberts, Daphne Ashbrook | Directed by Vanessa Yuille, Matthew Jacobs

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, I’ll watch any good documentary even if I am not interested in the subject matter. Which leads me to see this documentary on the writer of the 1996 Doctor Who movie, Doctor Who Am I. It’s not that I’ve never seen Doctor Who, or that I dislike it at all. I’m just not that bothered by it. I’ve watched it every now and then throughout my life and it’s usually fine but I’ve never stuck with it. But, after a quick read of this movie’s synopsis I was certain I would enjoy it.

The movie follows Matthew Jacobs, the screenwriter of the 1996 Doctor Who film (a film that I did not realise was not well received), who after years of kind of avoiding the Doctor Who fandom – almost definitely in part because of the criticism of the movie – is persuaded to attend some Doctor Who conventions in America while filming a documentary about his experiences.

I’ve seen a handful of documentaries in the last few years about fandoms and the convention circuit from a fan’s perspective and I always come out of them with similar feelings. As someone that attends conventions, and has done for a number of years, they remind me of why I go (in case I ever forget!). There is that sense of belonging and sense of being among people that enjoy and love and obsess about the same things you do. And for many people, this might be the first time feeling like this or something that might only happen once a year. It’s a big deal and something I completely understand and can relate to in a huge way. So how does this connect with Matthew Jacobs? Well, without spoiling Doctor Who Am I too much he is clearly a fan of Doctor Who and has been since a young age but somehow he hadn’t forgotten this. Or maybe not forgotten, just categorised it in a different way because he became part of what he loved.

It doesn’t take too long though. Once he starts talking to fellow fans, fans that loved his movie – and ones that didn’t love it so much, he begins to understand these conventions. Once he sees people spending so much money and time to dress up as their favourite characters, he understands more. Even when talking to actors like Paul McGann and Daphne Ashbrook, he understands a little more because they were at some point like him. It’s fascinating to see his world suddenly open up and for him to suddenly discover this new world. It’s genuinely heart-warming to watch.

Another link between these convention documentaries is how nice the people, the fans, are who attend them. So many people at an event for the same reason, and for many, something they don’t get to talk about or celebrate in their day-to-day lives. People care about these things, and they absolutely love being at the events. You can’t help but smile. To see the screenwriter be involved in this and become a part of it is lovely to see.

If you have any love for a particular franchise or series that most people do not, you’ll get something out of Doctor Who Am I. If you go to conventions, it will likely make you smile throughout. While if you’re a Doctor Who fan, it is an absolute must-watch.