Men don't always look good in dresses. In fact, they rarely do. Tim Curry did in 1976. Dustin Hoffman didn't in 1982. Was he good as a woman? He was terrific! It's true, Dorothy is a better person than Michael, but we love them both.
Through Dorothy, Michael discovers how men act, and how badly they do. Michael only realises how mean he's been to Sandy when he hears Ron say the same things he did. He is able to correct himself and...earn the girl, not get the girl. They movie is telling us they men and women need to be honest with each other, and just to get along.
The movie worked very hard to not have to rely on one joke, and it succeeds. As well as the sight gag of first seeing Dustin in a dress, wig and make up, we get a comedy about relationships, actors, TV, and how people act. The movie succeeds because not only can we believe that Dorothy is a woman (come on, Dustin does succeed in making Dorothy a real woman), but the plot is believable.
Could it happen today? Doubtfully. The internet would have been buzzing with "Who is Dorothy Michaels?" and her details would (not) have been found, causing furore. But, we can believe it happened eighteen years ago.
Great scenes are such when Dorothy has just come home and Sandy is knocking at the door. I love the dialogue - "I just had a shower" "Good shower" "Good shower." It looks like nothing. But it's funny. And then "Why is he thanking you for a wonderful night in front of the fireplace?" Rather than come up with an amazing story (which we all expect) "My mind's a blank." This is from the less-is-more school.
The funniest scene in the movie is that when Michael must come out of being Dorothy. It's funny. It could have been terrible. But it's wonderful. And then we're shocked, because we see Julie's reaction.
"Mrs Doubtfire" owes itself to "Tootsie." I favour "Tootsie" for two major reasons:
1) it's funnier, more insightful and a more serious comedy
2) It never resorted to having that unbearable seen where Michael would have to be a quick-change artist juggling people who knew Dorothy and Michael but not the other. It didn't need to.
"Tootsie"'s only fault is that occasionally the humour is hard to watch because it's painful. We like the characters, and to see them go through pain or treat each other badly isn't fun, even if it is funny.
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