Not knowing anything else about “Tootsie” other than the fact that it features Dustin Hoffman in drag I was very leery about watching it. Not because transgender people make me uncomfortable, but because drag humor isn’t funny. Little did I know that the comedic elements of this film are built around the reasons he is in drag and the consequences of it, rather than just the novelty of a man dressed up like a woman, which is what movies like “White Chicks” and “Mrs. Doubtfire” rely on to carry the picture.
Dustin Hoffman plays Michael Dorsey, a method actor who has pissed off every theater director in New York, finding himself blacklisted despite his talent. Out of work and options Michael hatches a plan that will hopefully land him a steady job as well as push his acting abilities to the limit. Calling on his ability to immerse himself into a character, Michael transforms himself into a woman, Dorothy Michaels (an obvious reversal of his given name) and successfully auditions for the role as a homely hospital administrator on a trashy soap opera.
Before long “Dorothy” becomes the breakout star of the show which turns Michael’s life “upside-down-face” (as Brian Griffin would say). His basket case best friend Sandy (Teri Garr) falls in love with him to the point of stalkerdom due to a misunderstanding when Michael is forced to either pretend he is seducing her or reveal the truth about his double-life and unwisely chooses the former. His roommate Jeff (played by Bill Murray, who doesn’t really flex his acting muscles here, playing virtually the same character he always played up until “Rushmore”) rags on Michael every chance he gets, providing some of the funniest lines in the movie along the way. Most complicated though is the relationship “Dorothy” establishes with her co-star Julie (Jessica Lange). Julie sees Dorothy as a fellow woman/confidant and gushes the details of her emotionless relationship with the show’s director (Dabney Coleman- the 1980’s go-to-guy for skeevy, misogynistic roles) which makes Michael fall in love with her.
Without being too preachy or polarizing “Tootsie” manages to provide unique commentary on issues like gender roles, financial desperation and male/female relationships. Michael finds himself in a position where he notices for the first time the way women are treated in his industry and even sees how he has inadvertently subjected women to this mistreatment by mentoring several aspiring female actresses and encouraging them to go after parts, seemingly unaware of how different the audition process is for them.
“Listen, you take your hands off me or I’ll knee your balls right through the roof of your mouth!” (Dorothy Michaels, “Tootsie”)
He is also forced to evaluate his relationships with women. Though his best friend is a woman, he not only discovers how easily a platonic friendship can become something else, but also how impossible it is to “go back” after having crossed the line. Similarly, he learns how difficult it is to be in the position Sandy is in where he is the one who is carrying the torch for someone who doesn’t see you in the same light- though in Julie’s case it is because she believes Michael is a woman. At one point Michael (as Dorothy of course) makes a move on Julie and sexual orientation is also forced to become part of the dialogue of the film as well; granted it is sidestepped for the most part, but even that it was addressed in the early 80’s in film was very commendable. More commendable still though is the fact that this film is directed in such a way that Michael’s sexual orientation is never called into question while maintaining that he really sees no shame in his predicament, thus making the film very non-offensive to any viewer, regardless of their comfort level with sexual identity.
Perhaps the most admirable thing about “Tootsie” however is the way it addresses society’s perception of physical attractiveness and the pressures that go along with it; whether it is Julie mentioning ways to look younger to Dorothy or Michael’s frantic attempts to impress Julie in their first outside-of-work encounter. Since he has to do this as Dorothy the focus has to be on what makes him look less “hippy” or makes his butt sag the least.
This comedic sensitivity towards appearance is especially important in addressing the transformation from Michael to Dorothy. While convinced that Dorothy is a natural woman, people still believe she is a fairly homely one- this is important in making the plot believable. By adopting a Peggy Hill-like appearance it is not totally unconvincing that Michael could pass as a female, especially considering the obvious temptation the director would feel to make him a super-hot woman with all the extra plot devices and gags this concept could lend itself to.
“Tootsie” is a charming movie if for no other reason than it touches on several serious issues without actually diving into any of them. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which keeps the film simply a comedy, rather than a dramedy. Sometimes when a film starts off light-hearted and winds up trying to make too serious of a point it cuts the guts out of the film, or even worse comes across as pretentious and condescending.
On the flip side though, the film satirizes so many social injustices while never making light of them and without ridiculing. None of the jokes are made at the expense of any of the “good” people and nothing overly sadistic happens to any of the “bad” people. Also, this film benefits from the realism of not showing any unrealistic, overly dramatic changes to any of the characters.
Lastly, I can't talk about this film without mentioning how incredible an acting job Dustin Hoffman pulls off. Not only does he manage to nail both his male and female parts, but his transitional scenes are true genius. Going from being a man to a woman is not a seamless process and Hoffman portrays the challenge excellently without belaboring the point or overdoing it. It's one thing to pretend to be an actor, but to pretend to be an actor acting badly is a new level of talent.
While I admire the artistry, depth, symbolism, plot devices and character development featured in many of the films on this Top 100 list, it is refreshing to get a movie like “Tootsie” where the primary function is still entertainment. Nothing more and nothing less.
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