Rating: 
Summary: Astounding film fails to harness the power of DVD
Review: If ever a movie got robbed on Oscar® night, it was TOOTSIE. Up against the historical powerhouse GANDHI, it didn't stand much of a chance. But in any other year, it would clearly have swept the statuettes off the stage. This sublime comedy is a must for every aspiring actor, not only for the message it delivers about the need for talent to be tempered by professionalism, but also for the sheer quality of the acting on display. There's not a single actor in the entire piece who fails the script. The editing is particularly crisp, often adding a comic punctuation of its own. For me, the standout actor is not Dustin Hoffman but the highly underrated Sydney Pollack. As Michael Dorsey's frustrated agent, and the only character actually in opposition to Dorsey's impersonation, his sense of frustration and confusion provides, I think, the funniest moments in the film. What's even more impressive is that his character echoes his behind-the-scenes role. As the film's director, his principle duty is to make sure that the film coheres into a logical narrative. Similarly, as Dorsey's agent, he provides a lot of that necessary narration. Though many of Pollack's lines are not only hilariously funny, they also serve to better define Dorsey and provide answers to fill in potential plot holes. In the end, the audience is twice served by Pollack. Not only does he direct with great comic assuredness, his character crucially makes Dorsey's madness believable. What makes this DVD disappointing is not its film. No, the woeful lack of any special features is simply inexcusable. There is really no reason to buy the DVD over the cheaper VHS. It's incredible to me that such a seminal work can be so bereft of even a simple director's commentary. Hopefully, later "special editions" will be a more complete addition to your DVD library.
Rating: 
Summary: Dorothy Michaels is a legend
Review: Tootsie - where would the film world be without this 1982 comedy? I proudly own one of the funniest films, and it is gets watched over and over - still to this day. Why? Dustin Hoffman features as an out of work actor who takes a up a role as female lead on a TV soap. Sound easy? Not at all. To achieve this, he has to become a woman and that is where the film achieves so much magic. Watching Hoffman play Dorohty is so convincing that by the end of the movie you forget it's him - Dorothy takes on a life of her own. The story is never short of entertaining, and features other stars such as Jessica Lange, and Dabney Corman. I must admit, I am not a big fan of Lange but this movie doesnt let her steal the thunder - that is for Hoffman and Dorothy. Without giving too much of the film plot away, I promise those that have not seen it a fantastic 90+ minutes of film. You'll understand why they call Hoffman a character actor even more after seeing it. 5+ stars in fact for this movie !
Rating:
Summary: FUNNY. AND MEANINGFUL.
Review: What a tightly scripted, beautifully acted, finely paced comedy! Having seen it a long time ago, I felt it must've been very much like an older version of Mrs Doubtfire, but this marvellous film has a lot more going for it than the female impersonation angle. When a failing actor cross dresses to get a job, he also discovers the inconveniences of being a "woman of the 80s". Throughout the film, there's always a pleasing sense of cynical humor (e.g., "I dont believe in hell. I believe in unemployment, but not in hell") and Hoffman is topnotch in his role. The from Morricone has a somewhat grating refrain of Stephen Bishop's "It might be you" but I guess it perfectly serves its purpose, providing the touching backdrop to the actor's increasing awareness of the strength of feminine qualities -- the touch of the baby to his cheek, the poignant sight of Julie's skirt swishing in the kitchen, the offering to Dorothy of her chocolate-covered finger to suck, etc. I can see that Hoffman must have committed to this movie bigtime, and I notice that there's a book that describes the making of this film but is currently out of print. Perhaps something to this effect would have been great to include on the DVD itself, which is incidentally quite lousy for such a classic film. At any rate, it's a great addition to any movie collection.
Rating:
Summary: Roll Tootsie
Review: One of the other reviewers here comments that "Tootsie" is a movie that doesn't get much notice anymore. I don't know if that's true or not, but if it is true, it's a real tragedy. In my opinion, this is one of the best comedies ever made. It's somewhere between the blatant slapstick of "The Great Race" and the witty sophistication of "The Pink Panther", and it doesn't have a car chase in it, but this movie is nonstop funny from beginning to end. There is humor in just about every scene, and funny lines abound. Dustin Hoffman, one of the best actors of his generation, gives one of his best peformances as a tempermental actor who can't get a job and secretly tries out for a female role on a big daytime soap opera in drag. Of course, he gets the part and becomes enormously popular, largely because he refuses to put up with the crap that other actresses put up with. Not only is Hoffman excellent, but the rest of the cast is also outstanding. Jessica Lange got a best supporting actress oscar. The oscar for best picture should have landed here, as well. If you've never seen this one, do yourself a favor -- get a copy and watch it. If you haven't seen it in years, get a copy and watch it again. Either way, you won't be sorry. This is one Hollywood's best comedies.
Rating:
Summary: What y'all really want is some gross, caricature of a woman!
Review: In 1982, Dustin Hoffman played one of his most memorable roles as Michael Dorsey in the hilarious comedy, "Tootsie". As an out-of-work actor, Michael teaches acting classes because no director will hire him due to his somewhat peremptory attitude, or so says his agent George Fields (Sydney Pollack, who also directed the film). Frustrated with being undesirable and wanting to prove himself, Michael dons a dress and high heels so that he can apply for a female role in a television soap opera. Calling himself Dorothy Michaels, the soap opera director, Ron (Dabney Coleman), thinks that Dorothy is too ugly for the part, but Dorothy's dominance earns 'her' the right to a screen test and 'she' gets hired! As the film progresses, Michael's pretense as a woman earns him the stardom and recognition that he longed for. However, it also gets him into trouble not only with a woman that he's dating, Sandy (Teri Garr), but also with two of the regular stars from the soap opera, Julie (Jessica Lange) and John Van Horn (George Gaynes). With an excellent script, superb acting and a hilarious story, it was completely unsurprising that "Tootsie" earned 10 Oscar nominations, including nominations for Best Picture, Best Director (Syndey Pollack), Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay. Dustin Hoffman was nominated for Best Actor and both Teri Garr and Jessica Lange were nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Of all the Oscar nominations, only Jessica Lange won the Oscar. Dustin Hoffman won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, as did Jessica Lange for Best Supporting Actress. The number of Oscar nominations that the film earned demonstrated the many strengths of the film, not to mention that the film will keep you laughing and fully engaged! Other very memorable characters in the film include Julie's father Les (Charles Durning), Michael's roommate Jeff (Bill Murray), soap opera producer Rita (Doris Belack) and soap opera nurse April (a young Geena Davis). If you enjoy films such as "Some Like It Hot" (1959) and "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993), you will more than likely enjoy "Tootsie" equally as well. I rate "Tootsie" with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars and am very pleased to own it on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Comedy of the 1980's
Review: Tootsie is a hysterical movie. Dustin Hoffman gives one of the best performances of his career as a contentious, unemployed actor (Michael Dorsey), who masquerades as a woman (Dorothy Michaels) to land a part on a soap opera. Tootsie is one of the best comedies ever made. It is also extremely touching. Michael Dorsey's gender-bending stint on the soap opera is very cathartic for him. Michael falls in love with his co-star (Julie Nichols) portrayed by Jessica Lange. This new found romance awakens a new found sensitivity in Michael Dorsey. Lange won a well deserved Academy Award for best supporting actress for this role. Bill Murray, Teri Garr, and Sydney Pollack gave great performances as well. My only gripe with this DVD is that it was deficient in the bonus features department. There is no making of Tootsie documentary or director's commentary. Nevertheless, the quality of the movie alone is worth giving this DVD the highest recommendation possible.
Rating:
Summary: A Nearly Perfect American Comedy
Review: I heard a story that Dustin Hoffman was considering doing this movie, but that he waited until he had been made up to see if he made a convincing enough woman before agreeing. I don't know how true this story is, or even how convincing he is as a woman, but thank goodness this movie was made. I can't think of another movie more perfectly cast except.... maybe... Casablanca? Jessica Lange is perfect as the beautiful soap actress and love interest. Charles Durning is perfect as the sweet older man who falls in love with Dustin's "Dorothy". Terri Garr is perfect as the insecure female friend who loses the role on the soap to "Dorothy". Bill Murray is great in his few scenes - this is one of the first movies where we actually got to see him "act". Dabney Coleman is perfect as the arrogant director of the soap who cheats on poor Jessica. Director Sydney Pollack wisely casts himself perfectly as Dustin's exasperated agent. (The scene early on where he informs Dustin that NO ONE will hire him because he's too "difficult" is fantastic.) Lastly, Dustin Hoffman is perfect as the actor who becomes a better man by pretending to be a woman. The film is full of situations that turn your expectations sideways - I'd give examples, but that would ruin your enjoyment if you haven't seen it yet! Trust me - just watch this movie - but only if you want to be entertained!
Rating:
Summary: Dustin Hoffman is the best!
Review: Dustin Hoffman is a fantastic character actor, one of the all time greats. He is superb in this movie. He is an actor who can't get a job as a man but through circumstances, ends up getting a woman's part in a soap opera. The cast thinks he is a woman and it really was funny watching Hoffman try to keep them from learning he was a man. This movie was really funny and yet it had a lot of drama and humanity included. I found his portrayal of a woman more interesting and likable than that of the male character, in fact, there were times that I would get so wrapped up in the character, Dorothy, that I would forget that he was a man acting as a woman. The cast, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman, Bill Murray, Charles Durney, Geena Davis, were all great. This is one of those movies that will be remembered for years to come! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Dustin Hoffman UNSTOPPABLE
Review: Anyone who says this movie plays off of other cross-dressing movies is seriously mistaking. Tootsie enhanced it. With superb acting, hysterical script, and great direction Tootsie is the funniest movie ever created. The timing Dustin Hoffman has makes the whole movie worth watching over and over and over again. YOU MUST BUY THIS MOVIE!
Rating:
Summary: He can do anything
Review: Dustin Hoffman can do any role (well, maybe not a drool-all-over-me romantic lead), and he does each one sooo well, including the 'idiot savant' in Rainman. In Tootsie, made in the 80s, Hoffman disguises himself as a middle-aged woman to land a part in a TV soap opera. He gets the job, but his biggest reward is getting to see the way the world treats women.
Dabney Coleman plays the laconic roommate with deadpan humor, and Geena Davis, before anyone knew who she was, plays the confused girlfriend.
If you haven't seen it, rent it now. And force your male teenager to watch it, too; besides the fact that he'll enjoy it, it also might scrub some of the macho obnoxiousness off his act.
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