Tootsie, 1982

Moving down the AFI list, I reached #62, Tootsie, starring Dustin Hoffman in a dress. Yikes. I was not expecting to like this movie. I still don't think of Dustin Hoffman as a comedy actor. But after Tootsie, I know he certainly posses the ability to be very, very funny. The film follows Hoffman's character as he becomes a woman in order to land an acting job. Along the way he falls for his co-star, but he can't tell her that he's really a man. Hilarity ensues. It's Hoffman's deadpan style that really makes Tootsie such a comedic gem. Seeing him in a dress (ugly dresses!) and a wig, going all out but trying to hide his true identity is just hilarious. Bill Murray plays Hoffman's roommate and he's a riot. His reaction to Hoffman as a woman is priceless. The story is simple, and most of it is somewhat predictable, with a few exceptions. But it's the characters that are the centerpiece of Tootsie. As far-fetched as the story is, you can almost believe that it's actually happening. I'm not a fan of men in dresses, but Tootsie is funny in a way that modern comedies aren't. Tootsie doesn't rely on the usual gags and jokes about bodily function that I've come to expect. It sets up some potentially funny situations with talented actors playing amusing characters and lets them loose. The DVD presentation was good, but not great. The audio was mixed in 5.1-channel Dolby Digital, but a comedy originally recorded in mono doesn't gain a whole lot from the new soundtrack. The dialogue was clear and sounded good, but other than that the track was relatively flat. The video featured decent details levels, although some of the dimmer scenes washed out a bit. The colors could have been brighter, but at least they appeared accurate.

What did you think about this review?

Thank you for voting.

Like Dislike

Abuse report sent

Report abuse