 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Tootsie
- Review Date: July 28, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Comedy
- 1982
Common Sense Media says
Touching romantic comedy with a twist.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this film touches on issues such as having children out of wedlock, alcoholism, and homosexuality (much of which is mistakenly assumed during moments of cross-dressing). While these issues may seem mature, the film uses each sparingly and as a means to illustrate growth in its characters. While the storyline puts Michael (and his alter-ego Dorothy) in compromising situations, it also leads to good clean fun and personal discoveries about respect for one's self and others.
What's the story?
TOOTSIE follows the story of Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman), an out-of-work and disagreeable New York actor who disguises himself as a woman to win a plumb role in a daytime soap opera. Ultimately, Michael gets more than a steady paying job. The nation embraces his screen alter-ego Dorothy as a strong female role model. Michael quickly learns a little about what life is like for the opposite sex. As he melds his adversarial demeanor with Dorothy's on- and off-screen personae, he simultaneously finds his womanhood, manhood, and love.
Is it any good?
Before Mrs. Doubtfire donned a dress, Dustin Hoffman made a splash on the big screen as Dorothy Michaels (née Michael Dorsey) in Tootsie. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards (including a win for Jessica Lange), the comedy entered into the feminist fray at the height of the push for the Equal Rights Amendment.
Tootsie is a raucously funny, yet touching film (that includes one of the best uses of a corncob in the history of motion pictures). Aside from classic performances by Hoffman, Lange, and Teri Garr, the film features underrated turns by Bill Murray as Michael's playwright roommate and Charles Durning as a man bitten by Dorothy's feminine wiles. The humor and subject matter stand the test of time quite well. It's truly worth watching for teens and adults.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the film's themes of honesty, homosexuality, and gender equality. Families can talk about the Michael's changes in attitude and treatment of women early in the film versus the end. While the movie may be over 20 years old, it still has something important to say about representations of women on television. Parents could talk to kids about how such representations have changed or remained the same since the film's production.
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- Teens & kids
AGE
the rating is perfect!
funny seeing Dustin Hofman as a woman wow great 80's movie perfect rating really is!
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AGE
It was okay
Belive me when I say this, I only rented this movie because my uncle's cousin is in it (I dont who that would be to me, my cousin?) But anyways when you watch this movie and the scene where the two people go into a hotel, you'll see a man pushing a cart of clothing from one elevator to the other and thats my uncles cousin! fy in ur eyes theres nothing bad just swearing.
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AGE
A film filled with adult themes. Not for young teens.
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AGE
Fun for teens and parents, a little iffy for pre-teens
This is a great movie -- the only concern I have is some sexual talk which may not be appropriate for pre-teens. An instance that comes to mind: Dustin Hoffman is in Teri Garr's bedroom while she's showering and wants to try on her dress. She catches him and he covers by saying he wants her. They are shown in bed together but it is very tame. Later when things don't go quite right, Teri Garr goes on a rant of sorts, saying (among other things) "I was responsible for my own orgasm." A point to discuss with older kids -- Dustin Hoffman being unwilling to reveal his deception and adding the additional crime of misleading Teri Garr into sleeping with him.
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Kid, 10 years old
June 13, 2010
AGE
all Mike wants is a job but he's not as fancy as a girl he has to mess up himself to get the job from Micheal to dorthy
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AGE
Anyone would like it
I'd rate it ON 13+. It's tame and relates to other modern day movies and even a Shakespearean play.
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AGE
Classic
This is my favorite Dustin Hoffman movie. I've seen this movie over 10 times, and I still laugh at the comedic display of Hoffman as a woman.
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AGE
Beware with Pre-teens
One of my all time favorite movies from my childhood. I had such fond memories of it so I decided to show it to my 12 and 14 year old girls. Yikes, I wish I would have waited another couple of years. I was surprised that the rating was PG with so much bad language ("S" word, "F" word, etc.) and with so much talk about casual sex. There were more than a couple references and scenes with casual sex. I think the rating should be PG-13 for sure....maybe even PG-14 if there were such a thing! Also tons of drinking and smoking but I was able to explain this as part of the times. But I still LOVE the movie....so sweet!
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| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Sydney Pollack |
| Cast: | Charles Durning, Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 116 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 17, 1982 |
| DVD release date: | January 15, 2002 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | content |
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