Tootsie

Name: Tootsie
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: December 17, 1982
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 88
Cast: Dustin Hoffman

1982

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 116 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 116 Ratings

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Tootsie

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: December 17, 1982 | PG

Starring: Dustin Hoffman

Movie Facts:

Actors vote Tootsie the Greatest Film Ever MadeActors vote Tootsie the Greatest Film Ever Made

Summary: Unable to get an acting job, Michael Dorsey (Hoffman) becomes Dorothy Michaels and gets a part in a New York soap opera.

Director: Sydney Pollack

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG

Runtime: 116 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Michael Blowen

Tootsie, the story of a man who liberates himself by masquerading as a woman, is the funniest, most revealing comedy since "Annie Hall." [17 Dec 1982]

100

Bob Thomas

In pants or skirts, Hoffman remains true to character, and his perplexity is real, especially when one girlfriend (Teri Garr) suspects he is a gay male, while the other (Jessica Lange) believes he is a lesbian female. Both actresses are excellent, and Miss Lange continues her promise to become a superstar of the 1980s. [27 Dec 1982]

100

Vincent Canby

Tootsie is the best thing that's yet happened at this year end. It's a toot, a lark, a month in the country. Read full review

Bill Cosford

Tootsie is full of good movie writing, and such are its pleasures that you wonder early on why all comedies can't be this good. The problem is that it's hard to do; the trick is that Tootsie makes it look easy. [17 Dec 1982, p.D14]

Staff (Not Credited)

The tone is quick-witted and appealing, with some of the smartest dialogue this side of Billy Wilder, and a wonderfully sure-footed performance from Jessica Lange (as her/his girlfriend). But the film never comes within a thousand miles of confronting its own implications: Hoffman's female impersonation is strictly on the level of Dame Edna Everage, and the script's assumption that 'she' would wow female audiences is at best ridiculous, at worst crassly insulting to women. Read full review

Christopher Machell

Despite sharing the stylistic trappings of so many 1980s urban comedies – Three Men and a Baby, Big, Crocodile Dundee – Tootsie transcends its generic conventions with a wonderfully nuanced turn from Hoffman, a terrific supporting cast that includes Bill Murray and Jessica Lange, and a screenplay that is as sensitive as it is funny. Tootsie’s finely balanced writing is one of the film’s greatest strengths, being consistently funny without ever turning the central premise into a gag. Read full review

Dave Kehr

There are several solid laughs and some excellent supporting performances. But this is a film to be wary of. Read full review

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User Reviews

MKM

Jun 4, 2008

One of the all-time best comedy/ love stories. It's in my desert island bag.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

kaleees

May 28, 2021

Most favorite movie and definitely a comfort movie. love this movie tootsie! Hope if this will be remaked. Lily James could play jessica lange's role here.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alejandro970

Jan 6, 2019

Top of the mountain roles of young Dustin Hoffman. The resource of drag-comedy works as fine, with smart humor and remarkable make-up job. An ultimate of 80s that everyone shall to see.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

avatar16

Apr 7, 2012

Avant de le voir, je m'attendais plus Ã un film 100% tournÃ©e vers la comÃ©die qu'autre chose. DÃ¨s les premiÃ¨res minutes, j'ai Ã©tÃ© surpris. Et pour cause, Tootsie est l'un de cesAvant de le voir, je m'attendais plus Ã un film 100% tournÃ©e vers la comÃ©die qu'autre chose. DÃ¨s les premiÃ¨res minutes, j'ai Ã©tÃ© surpris. Et pour cause, Tootsie est l'un de ces longs-mÃ©trages qui se permet de dÃ©voiler au grand public l'envers du dÃ©cors et l'enfer que doivent vivre les jeunes comÃ©diens/comÃ©diennes pour ne serait-ce qu'avoir un rÃ´le comme job. Une description qui pourrait facilement dÃ©courager la plupart des gens concernÃ©s. Heureusement, le tout est menÃ© dans la bonne humeur, oÃ¹ il est jouissif de voir le "grand" Dustin Hoffman se travestir avec une aisance bluffante qui prouve qu'il est vraiment "grand"! Bien entendu, il n'est pas seul (Jessica Lange, Bill Murray...). AprÃ¨s, on peut critiquer des gags parfois prÃ©visibles voire gros comme une maison, mais cela n'enlÃ¨ve rien Ã la joie qu'apporte ce film.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

amheretojudge

Mar 29, 2019

Unmask The Voice.

Tootsie Pollack has got his finest project out. A perfect balance of humor and comedy. Both illuminating and inspiring. Probably because it judges its own host, the protagonist, in the most subtle mature way possible. There is this one line that is enacted in its firstUnmask The Voice.

Tootsie

Pollack has got his finest project out. A perfect balance of humor and comedy. Both illuminating and inspiring. Probably because it judges its own host, the protagonist, in the most subtle mature way possible. There is this one line that is enacted in its first stage by the protagonist, and then later that very same line by the antagonist. This is how balanced the world is. The director Sydney Pollack's romance between the characters is his sharpest knife.

He cuts deep with supporting characters, like when Hoffmann when dressed as a woman is forced just after he is being proposed by being sung in front of his apartment. That scene that may draw in the laughs is so beautifully haunting as the kraken is released in that very stage after being teased in the entire film. And these subtle nuances where some director keeps inappropriately touching and controlling his lead actress, is done so brilliantly that without any such loud intentions, he fights for equal rights like no one.

If Dustin Hoffman through his body language attracts you heavily with his performance, Jessica Lange in her completely opposite cloak oozes warmth and somehow the film has managed to be balanced again. This brilliant never-taken-for-granted concept is buoyant as far as the gags are concerned, after a certain while, this transformation of Hoffmann is considered to be the apparatus of the scene that is actually set in a backdrop of something beyond valuable than it. The supporting cast like hilarious Bill Murray, incredibly moving Charles Durning and brilliant George Gaynes have definitely helped in creating this ultimate illusion. Just like the pleased people of the soap opera viewers, Tootsie- if I may call her that- deserves the fame and respect she and he gets.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

May 22, 2014

I had low expectations for this one and, honestly, expected the cross dressing of Hoffman to be a little...odd. However, as a whole, the film is very funny, endearing, and quite charming, as we watch Hoffman transform into a woman in order to try to rescue his acting career. Easily theI had low expectations for this one and, honestly, expected the cross dressing of Hoffman to be a little...odd. However, as a whole, the film is very funny, endearing, and quite charming, as we watch Hoffman transform into a woman in order to try to rescue his acting career. Easily the funniest part of the film is watching serious scenes with serious implications unfold with the knowledge that Hoffman is actually a man and being the only ones aside from his roommate (Bill Murray) who knows this. In addition, him working on his interpersonal relationships from both sides really leads to some interesting conversations that also help to add to the comedy of the film. In terms of acting, really everyone did well and aside from Hoffman who obviously stood out, Bill Murray was great. He was his usual self from the 80's, which really made every scene he was in quite funny. Overall, Tootsie is a fun film to watch (there are some awkward moments that make you cringe, but those aside) and is a solid way to spend an afternoon.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Mar 23, 2020

Encore une daube assommante du père Pollack qui n'a pas son pareil pour nous assommer avec ses merdes ! sous couvert cette fois d'une comédie légère avec le grand petit acteur Hoffman en ridicule travesti qui se ridiculise du début à la fin ici... on lui pardonnera en faisant comme si nousEncore une daube assommante du père Pollack qui n'a pas son pareil pour nous assommer avec ses merdes ! sous couvert cette fois d'une comédie légère avec le grand petit acteur Hoffman en ridicule travesti qui se ridiculise du début à la fin ici... on lui pardonnera en faisant comme si nous n'avions rien vu, pour son bien et le nôtre mais quand même...

Donc à l'ennui qu'il sait prodiguer jusqu'à l'infini et au delà, voici que l'enfoirnaze de Pollack nous colle de l'humour de zozo trizozo à mongolerie très avancée pour faire triste mauvaise mesure à son nouveau film-mètre-étalon de la connerie américaine qui monte jusqu'au ciel !

On se croirait donc dans un Vidéogag qui n'en finit pas et qui dure deux plombes et Hoffman, l'un des acteurs les plus doués au monde, arrive vraiment à nous énerver, lui qui habituellement rayonne de charisme à des lieues à la ronde... et là, il nous casse les couilles. Quelle tristesse...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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