Sydney Pollack directs Dustin Hoffman, Dustin Hoffman and Jessica Lange in this comedy about an unemployable method actor who poses as a middle aged woman to secure a part on a soap.

Tootsie is one of those “classics” that I always meant to get around to watching, it is embarrassing I hadn’t til now being quite such a big Hoffman and Bill Murray fan. It didn’t quite meet my high expectations for it. As a comedy or a drama it isn’t quite feast or famine. The humour from the set up is amusing at best, with only an uncredited Bill finding laugh out lines. Drama wise the developments are too broad – points are made about sexism and questioning identity but in a foamy sitcommy way, it is a little too as expected, a little too soft play safe. Tootsie stands out on strong performances and charm, good New York location work and an insider’s relish of the acting world. It is a very, very likeable film giving Hoffman plenty of room to excel in dual roles… he creates and maintains Dorothy as her own person admirably. And Jessica Lange makes the most of what could have been a throwaway part – instilling her romantic interest with depth, seductiveness and vulnerability.

7