Doctor Doctor is the kind of chaotic indie comedy that reminds you sometimes laughter is the best medicine.
by Jennifer Noonan
Stevan Lee Mraovitch emerges as a bold and unapologetically imaginative voice in indie comedy. A Columbia MFA graduate raised between New York and Paris with Taiwanese and Serbian heritage, he brings a multicultural lens and an appreciation for sharp-witted satire to his work. From his successful debut Holidays at All Cost, which earned both Jury and Audience Awards at the Austin Film Festival, Mraovitch has clearly carried forward a passion for amplifying the absurd to highlight human vulnerability. With Doctor Doctor, he channels the spirit of Molière, using farce and comedic exaggeration to probe deeper anxieties, a direct homage to The Imaginary Invalid.
Shot during the 2023 SAG–AFTRA strike via an Ultra Low Budget Agreement, the film’s very existence feels like a triumph of resourcefulness and determination. Mraovitch navigated labor constraints, a single-location shoot, and continuity challenges, yet managed to deliver a cohesive, kinetic comedy. His brash and fearless style, melds satire, slapstick, and visual delirium. That boldness infuses every frame of Doctor Doctor, making it a vibrant showcase of his sensibility as a filmmaker who embraces chaos to reveal truth.
At its heart, Doctor Doctor is a twisted hostage farce. Oliver, a neurotic and germophobic hypochondriac, suddenly finds himself mistaken for a doctor in a dying rural clinic. With no training and armed only with panic, WebMD talk, and TikTok hacks, he is forced to perform medical procedures while navigating increasingly bizarre emergencies. The setup is absurd by design. You expect a mishap, but the film never lets up. It is a relentless spiral of improbability, escalating into a hostage scenario where Oliver fumbles, frets, and somehow manages to hold the clinic and his sanity together.
What elevates the film is how Oliver’s panic becomes oddly effective. His cluelessness turns into a lifeline in a clinic hiding sinister secrets, and as the chaos builds he confronts not only external threats but also internal fears and a deeper family emotional arc. His journey becomes unexpectedly cathartic.
Leading the charge is Steven He, the YouTube star behind “Emotional Damage” and over 13 million YouTube subscribers. In his first feature lead role, he leans into his instinct for physical comedy, delivering a frantic and emotionally vulnerable performance that is both hilarious and oddly touching. Supporting him is a talented ensemble that includes Damian Young, Guillermo Iván, Francesca Root-Dodson, and Frank Harts. While at times the cast’s amateurish edges show, that rawness adds to the film’s loopy charm. They all lean in with unrestrained energy, as if daring the absurdity to outpace their performances, and they often win.
While not every performance is pitch-perfect, there is a clear sense of enthusiastic commitment. The raw and earnest delivery fits the tone perfectly. It feels improvisational, heightened, and full-tilt.
The film as a whole is very entertaining. It does not pretend to be anything other than a high-velocity comedy rollercoaster. From absurd medical mayhem to hostage hijinks to emotional undercurrents, every scene pulses with kinetic energy.
It is rare to find a film that fully embraces its own insanity, but this one does. The pacing is relentless, the jokes are visual and absurd, and the tension feels real. Yet behind the laughter lurks an emotional core, the idea of confronting fear and identity and the absurd resilience of the human spirit shining through the comedy.
Stevan Lee Mraovitch’s fearless vision and comedic audacity make him an indie voice to watch. The plot is ridiculous, brave, and unpredictable. The acting is raw and enthusiastic, anchored by Steven He’s physicality and vulnerability. The entertainment value is a full-throttle thrill ride that is goofy and cathartic.
Doctor Doctor is not polished, but it does not need to be. It is a mischievous, well-made indie that dares to turn pandemic paranoia into a healing journey. Grab a friend, brace yourself for laughter-induced chaos, and let Oliver’s panic get you smiling too. Doctor Doctor is the kind of chaotic indie comedy that reminds you sometimes laughter is the best medicine.
Jennifer’s Score: 8.5/10
