Tootsie

Right now you can watch Tootsie in the US on Netflix, and in the UK on Now TV Cinema — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 1,941 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Dustin Hoffman sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Tootsie is worth clearing space for. The jokes in Tootsie land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. When struggling, out of work actor Michael Dorsey secretly adopts a female alter ego—Dorothy Michaels—in order to land a part in a daytime drama, he unwittingly becomes a feminist icon and ends up in a romantic pickle. Dustin Hoffman and Jessica Lange lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1982. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Tootsie holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Tootsie. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Dustin Hoffman is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.