Review of Tootsie (1982) by Hatem A — 17 Aug 2011

3.5/4.0.

"Tootsie" is one of cinema's best cross dressing comedies that is still a laugh out loud riot by today's standards. I wouldn't go too far as naming it one of the best movies ever made but it is undoubtedly an above average comedy with lots of heart elevated by strong performances and a razor sharp script. It is also one of the more memorable movies set in New York City and about actors.

Dustin Hoffman is flawless as Michael Dorsey a New York actor who is struggling to find a role because of his reputation as being difficult to work with. His emotional wreck best friend Sandy Lester (Terri Garr) is auditioning for a role in soap opera Southwest General. When she doesn't get the role, in a desperate act, he dresses as a woman and auditions as Dorothy Michaels and wins the role. Dorothy may look at times like a man in drag but the combination of her strong will and overtly feminine voice makes her a woman hard to miss.

Dorothy becomes a big hit thanks to a great deal of improvisation. Problem is Michael starts to fall for his co-star Julie Nichols (Jessica Lange). To complicate things, he accidentally starts a relationship with his friend Sandy. Meanwhile, a lot of men start to get attracted to Dorothy.

Hoffman is the heart and soul of the movie and his portrayal of Dorothy is nothing short of great fun. Lange won an Oscar (undeservedly in my view) for her role as the beautiful actress/single mother who is a relationship with the womanizing show's director Ron Carlisle (Dabney Coleman). She is good delivering an emotional performance but the role is not too demanding to be worthy of the Award consideration it garnered especially when considering other supporting performances including Garr, director Sydney Pollack as Michael's agent George Fields, Bill Murray as Michael's writer best friend and roommate, and Charles Durning as Julie's father Les who develops a crush for Dorothy. But my favorite is George Gaynes as the lead cast member of the show John Van Horn, an old actor who has big problem memorizing his lines. His scenes with Hoffman are among the movie's best and funniest thanks to Gaynes excellent sense of comic timing.

"Tootsie" is an enjoyable comedy and love story that is hard not to like. I also loved the insight into the world of actors and television. Geena Davis's first movie (she has a small role as one of the soap's cast). Winner of One Oscar: Supporting Actress (Lange). Nominated for Nine Others: Picture, Director, Actor (Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Garr), Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, Original Song ("It Might Be You") and Sound.