Tootsie [DVD] [1983]

Product reviewed: 2 Disc Edition. The film is a bit of a classic by now, and deservedly so: It's fabulous. Dustin Hoffman delivers an extraordinary performance in the title role of this entirely straight cross dressing story. His character is the difficult and thus unemployable actor Michael Dorsey who hits on the idea of dressing up as a woman in order to audition for a recurring part in a hit hospital soap - the role his girlfriend is turned down for in a rather cavalier way. Of course, being a man inside the dress, he doesn't take it well when the producers treat him as disrespectfully as the other hopefuls and his combative attitude ends up getting him the job. From then on there is much fun, but also plenty of real drama, as he must juggle his private life as a straight man and his job as a mature woman, the actress Doroty Michaels (Tootsie).Love him or hate him, Dustin Hoffman delivers in this film. In spades. You gotta congratulate him for playing the kind of woman he can credibly be: middle aged, more formidable than attractive, wearing the kind of dowdy clothes it takes to conceal any giveaway features. Jessica Lange is the female lead - the co-star of Hoffman's Tootsie persona in the soap, and the woman he falls for as the man Michael Dorsey. She is pretty enough in that rather dated 80s way and she is solid as ever as actress. The young Bill Murray is fun in a small supporting role as Michael's flatmate Jeff.The film hits on many issues of gender equality and in that respect it is as relevant today as it was at its release thirty plus years ago. But it is possible to watch it purely for its entertainment value and take everything at face value. There are laughs aplenty. Perfect entertainment for a rainy Sunday afternoon.The 2 Disc Edition is really rather nice with its generous amount of bonus material on disc two. There is a lot of material about how the idea of the film was conceived and how it was realized. Also a goodly number of scenes that didn't make it into the final cut. For those who are interested, this is what you get for your money: --- Disc One: Feature Film --- Disc Two: "A Better Man: The Making of Tootsie" Documentary including A Better Man (30 mins approx), Keep it Reel (21 mins approx), Good Friends (18 mins approx). Deleted Scenes (8 mins approx in total).

Hoffman said of this film that he never considered it a comedy. However, with Bill Murray and George Gaines as major players in the cast, and the concept being marketed as much more of a comedy than it perhaps it would be now - it's easy to make that assumption.I'd argue this film tackles a whole lot more current issues than it was perhaps intended to at the time. Certainly it takes a hard look at misogyny in the industry, and does not gloss over it at all. At it's heart, the film is a bit of Romcom - with Jessica Lange very capably playing the female lead. But the film, largely due to Hoffman's excellent performance and some thought provoking writing, goes much further.Certainly, some of the female characters feel a little poorly drawn at times, but then so do some of the supporting male roles. Murray is predictably excellent and Teri Garr (who I'm afraid I still see as Phoebe's birth mum from Friends!) performs well, before her character gets somewhat side lined as the film moves on.Overall, a really enjoyable film, that makes you think, albeit, not quite as hard as it could do. But that's ok, it is by no means blunt, but nor does it take itself too seriously.

Michael Dorsey is an out of work actor, unable to get work because he is either too small, too old, too young and etc. After final getting to the end of his tether he decides to drag up as a woman and audition for the role of Dorothy Michaels on a daytime soap opera. He not only gets the job but Dorothy becomes a massive hit with the television audiences and studio bosses alike, but success has its drawbacks, it plays havoc with his love life and brings unwanted attentions from members of the same sex!Terrificly entertaining comedy that showcases the best of Dustin Hoffman and brings our attention to a whole ream of quality supporting actors. Feeling very much like an old school type comedy, Tootsie (superbly directed by Sydney Pollack) fuses all the traits needed to hold the audience right to the credits role. What's noticeable now when revisiting the film is just how cheeky the piece is, poking the ribs of soaps, the pedal stool building of celebrities, and of course the bad taste that is left in the mouth because of sexism.....especially in the film industry, yes Tootsie is pretty astute work from Pollack and his team of writers (way too many to mention here).Though very much a blunderbuss vehicle for Hoffman's range (he may be difficult to work with but he's one of his generations best actors), Tootsie's ultimate success is down to the ensemble cast. The twin sexiness that is Jessica Lange and Teri Garr both put in tremendous work as the two women in Michael/Dorothy's life, then there is Bill Murray as Michael's flat mate, Jeff, deadpan comedy gold from the sozzled face master. Sydney Pollack (yes the same), Charles Durning, Dabney Coleman and Geena Davis round out the roll call for excellent performances fleshing the bones of this delightful picture. Not without its bitter sweet moments, or indeed a touch of drama, it's with the comedy that Tootsie is most remembered for, and rightly so. As Dorothy struggles to fight off amorous men, or the simplest thing like hailing a taxi, the laughs come fast and furious in this cross dressing delight. 8/10

I WANTED OLD TYPE GOOD CLEAN COMEDY...THIS IS SO HILARIOUS....CHEERED ME UP NO END.

Everything was OK.

There was nothing worth watching on TV and we found this on AMAZON. Saw it in the US when it came out in the early 80s and loved it. Although it seemed a little dated, still entertained us as it underlined Dustin Hoffman's acting talent comparable in some ways to Mrs Doubtfire