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Just behind Billy Wilder's 1959 farcical classic SOME LIKE IT HOT sits Sydney Pollack's 1982 satirical rom-com TOOTSIE on AFI's list of funniest movies of all-time. I recall hearing about TOOTSIE many years ago, and I once owned a DVD copy that I purchased at one of the local Walmart stores. I've since either lost that copy or possibly thrown it out, but my casual fandom surrounding the movie has ensued. I recently re-watched TOOTSIE on Netflix, and decided I'd start my own little discussion here about the movie itself.
While I do find the movie good and with its own share of genuine funny moments, I seriously doubt I'd say it is the second funniest movie of all-time. Of course, I haven't a clue how I'd even begin to assemble such a list, but there are a few movies AFI places below TOOTSIE (specifically 1938's BRINGING UP BABY) that I'd place higher on my personal list. TOOTSIE, as I say, is a very good movie, full of fine performances, good direction, a good story, and even a few good twists along the way.
The basic story of TOOTSIE is quite simple. Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) is a serious, out-of-work actor who spends his time holding acting workshops, helping his friend Jeff Slater (Bill Murray) write a play, and getting fired from various potential acting jobs because of his bad behavior and method acting-like techniques. Michael decides to take on a female persona he calls "Dorothy Michaels" and gets a job on the daytime soap opera SOUTHWEST GENERAL, a role his good friend Sandy Lester (Teri Garr) had hoped to audition for. Comedy hijinks ensue, all while Michael falls in love with his TV co-star Julie Nichols (Jessica Lange). He rejects proposals from his other co-star, John Van Horn (George Gaynes), and Julie's father, Les (Charles Durning).
I've always liked TOOTSIE, and this latest revisit was refreshing. Naturally, I like the soap opera angle, and I like many of the scenes Hoffman has fighting off the advances of the men seeking Dorothy's company.
What say you?
While I do find the movie good and with its own share of genuine funny moments, I seriously doubt I'd say it is the second funniest movie of all-time. Of course, I haven't a clue how I'd even begin to assemble such a list, but there are a few movies AFI places below TOOTSIE (specifically 1938's BRINGING UP BABY) that I'd place higher on my personal list. TOOTSIE, as I say, is a very good movie, full of fine performances, good direction, a good story, and even a few good twists along the way.
The basic story of TOOTSIE is quite simple. Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) is a serious, out-of-work actor who spends his time holding acting workshops, helping his friend Jeff Slater (Bill Murray) write a play, and getting fired from various potential acting jobs because of his bad behavior and method acting-like techniques. Michael decides to take on a female persona he calls "Dorothy Michaels" and gets a job on the daytime soap opera SOUTHWEST GENERAL, a role his good friend Sandy Lester (Teri Garr) had hoped to audition for. Comedy hijinks ensue, all while Michael falls in love with his TV co-star Julie Nichols (Jessica Lange). He rejects proposals from his other co-star, John Van Horn (George Gaynes), and Julie's father, Les (Charles Durning).
I've always liked TOOTSIE, and this latest revisit was refreshing. Naturally, I like the soap opera angle, and I like many of the scenes Hoffman has fighting off the advances of the men seeking Dorothy's company.
What say you?