Amy Lawrence Movies
The low-budget "Killer Tomatoes" series closed with this fourth chapter starring a returning John Astin as the resurrected Professor Gangrene, who resurfaces in France to continue his ongoing plot for world domination through the care and maintenance of the title fruit. Hoping to bank on his sidekick's resemblance to King Louis XVII (long prophesied to return to his throne), Gangrene sends his armies of tomato-monsters (who sport snarling, feral faces and one-liners this time out) to eliminate those who stand in his way. Among them is the nominal "hero," a has-been actor (Marc Price) spurred by the vacillating affections of winsome Parisian Marie (Angela Visser) to join the French army against the Juicy Red Menace. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman), a brilliant but troublesome New York actor, has managed to alienate every producer on both coasts. Michael's agent George Fields (Sydney Pollack) can't even get his client a commercial since Michael complained that the tomato he was playing wasn't properly motivated. "You were a tomato!" screams George in desperation, adding that Michael is so obnoxious that he will probably never work again. Dorsey thinks otherwise; when he hears of an opening on a popular soap opera, he applies for the job--even though the job is for a woman. Posing as "Miss Dorothy Michaels," Michael wins the part and becomes a widely-known actress. Yet complications ensue when Michael falls for his co-star Julie (Jessica Lange, in an Oscar-winning performance) but, as Dorothy, is courted by Julie's widowed father (Charles Durning). Michael ultimately finds that his disguise as a woman has made him a better man. One of the classic comedies of the 1980s, Tootsie's gender-bending premise boasts a screenplay by Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal, and by a host of memorable supporting comic performances from Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, George Gaynes, and Bill Murray. Future Oscar-winner Geena Davis makes her screen debut as a daytime drama queen, which indeed she had been before Tootsie came along. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, (more)
