Tootsie




I'm going to feel this way until I don't feel this way anymore.

This movie is often cited as being complicated, but I really don't see it. What is so hard about a man pretending to be a woman on TV, falling in love with his female coworker, getting hit on by nearly every aged man he meets and also trying to sort out his feelings about the whole matter?

Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) is a passionate yet difficult actor, who also happens to be unemployed. Desperate measures or not, he resorts to dressing up as a woman to audition for a soap opera. His fiercely independent character that he creates gives him not only the part, but fame as well. He also happens to fall for Julie (Jessica Lange), but isn't sure how to break the news to her.

There are times when Tootsie is uproarious. The script pulls out the humor by the hair full. It's peppy and irresistible. The story is cute, though not quite up to par. It is enjoyable, but by the end it leaves you wanting more, as there are some gaps that never get filled. Michael's relationship with Sandy (Teri Garr) is probably the best example. They start dating even though they're little more than friends and it gets nowhere. Sure it's funny, but in the end it doesn't feel justified. It seems too much time was spent making the story funny, though that's not all it tries for.

A strong message of feminism comes across. It embraces the independent woman and goes to great lengths to match it with the story. While it may be a bit awkward (it is a man who does most of the work), it does have a thing or two to say about gender roles. The rest of the movie runs smoothly enough. Syndey Pollack works the script and finds a great pace. But though it's undeniably the script that makes this film, it never does as well as it should, all things considered.

There's little doubt that this is Hoffman's show. He proves that he's got a knack for comedic timing, and he puts on one heck of a show with his dual roles. He's backed up by a solid supporting cast, with both Lange and Garr turning in some good performances. Bill Murray has some good lines, but this isn't his kind of movie. Some credit is due though, since he improvised his lines.

Toosie is often hyped as one of the best comedies ever. I don't know about that, but it is a breezy affair that packs some great laughs.



-The Gnome