Review of Tootsie (1982) by Allison N — 05 Apr 2008

Once in a long long time comes a movie that is (for want of a better word) perfect. It scores on every point and does not have a single dull moment. Above all, it has repeat value and makes you want to watch it over and over again.

Tootsie is one such film. It is a comedy about an unemployed actor who impersonates a woman in order to get a television role and becomes a big soap opera star. The movie is perfect in every single way.

The characters have been developed with great care and have depth and are very real (which is a rarity in this genre). Each moment is filled with hilarity. The timing of each joke is perfect. The dialogues are sharp and witty and the movie is extremely well paced.

There is a smooth flow maintained even in times of utter chaos. The music is good. The theme song of the movie "It Might Be You" sung by Stephen Bishop is excellent. Now coming to the acting department: the performance of Dustin Hoffman is what will be cited in textbooks for actors as an example of a stellar performance.

He is perfectly cast as Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels. Jessica Lange also pitches in a fine performance. Sydney Pollack is perfect, both as a director as well as an actor (he play's the role of Dustin Hoffman's agent in the movie).

Overall, this is one hell of a comedy which will make you laugh and smile long after it is over. Super solid recommendation!