We often wonder what it would be like to be on the other side of the gender fence and as time progresses the differences get smaller and smaller. It’s an era where a man (half man) gave birth and a woman (half woman?) came close to being the country’s Presidential nominee, other than a few body parts and men being able to urinate while standing up (sometimes even hitting the target) the sexes have grown towards equality.

Only a couple of short decades ago when the gender roles were more varied a couple of movies explored what it would be like for a man to be emasculated in the workplace and at home.

The film Tootsie (1982) stars Dustin Hoffman as Michael Dorsey, a talented but out of work actor, who repeatedly gets turned down for roles because of his difficulty to work with. Frustrated from not getting any male parts, Dorsey decides to audition for a female part as “Dorothy Michaels” on a soap opera. He, or maybe I should say she, gets the part on Southwest General Hospital as a hospital administrator and becomes a nationally known star.

Despite the wonderful performance by Hoffman who masters all the traits of a female, in my opinion the physical appearance makes it obvious that something is amiss with her. Granted, not all women are beauties but Dorothy has the sexual appeal of a nun. However, through the course of the movie Dorothy gets hit on by a variety of men. Maybe it is true that looks don’t matter and it’s all about the personality.

A central part of the film is Dorothy’s friendship with co-star Julie Nichols played by Jessica Lange, leading Michael to be attracted to her. I felt for Michael who was in the type of relationship he had long dreamed of but was trapped in a dress and unable to reveal his true identity. A movie in itself could be made with the premise that only covered a few scenes of Tootsie when Dorothy goes to spend a weekend with Julie on her father’s farm where they have to share a bed. Julie’s father, Les (Charles Durning), falls for, and eventually proposes to, Dorothy.

Much of the film’s comic relief comes from Dorothy’s struggle to spurn the advances by Les and fellow soap cast member John Van Horn (George Gaynes), while, at the same time try to manage his casual relationship with Sandy Lester (Teri Garr) without letting her know about his cross-dressing habit.

The film excels at covering Michael’s inner torment of not being able to be his true self around Julie. Both the pleasures and pain brought from their exchanges are fully captured by Hoffman’s portrayal, even through the thick makeup and glasses. A memorable scene occurs when, while Dorothy, he tries to kiss Julie and is quickly shunned. Unable to hide his true identity and feelings any longer, Michael develops a plan during a live taping of the soap that is deserving of a Daytime Emmy Award.

A gifted actor himself, no matter if he plays a man or woman, Hoffman is surrounded by a strong supporting cast, including the film’s director, the late Sydney Pollack, who plays his agent. Dabney Coleman is the soap’s sexist director and Julie’s boyfriend. Bill Murray gets off some good one liners as Michael’s roommate, and Geena Davis, in her film debut, who appears in underwear walking around in the dressing room she shares with Dorothy.

“I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man,” Michael says to Julie at the end of the film, in an attempt to make up for the charade he pulled. As a woman, Hoffman gives a performance in Tootsie that ranks with all he has done as a man.

A man filling in on the motherly duties of home is explored in Mr. Mom (1983) which stars Michael Keaton and is directed by Stan Dragoti. Who? I asked myself the same thing. This was his most successful film.

In some ways, not much has changed since this movie was made as Jack Butler (Keaton) works at an automobile manufacturing plant and loses his job due to an economic recession. He is the father of three children, with his wife Carolyn (Teri Garr) who according to his total ineptitude must have done everything in the house.

When Carolyn gets a job at an ad agency it leaves Jack to be the “man of the house” and total chaos ensues. How he managed to hold his job for as long as he did, I have no clue, but the movie would be rather dull if everything went smoothly while he cared for the children.

One of the comic highlights occurs when Jack makes his first trip to the grocery with the three little rascals and a call for a clean-up is needed in every aisle they enter. All the possible mishaps occur; losing a child, colliding carts with a little old lady and a price check being needed on a box of women’s feminine hygiene products. An appearance is also made by Hollywood’s most featured customer service representative, Edie McClurg.

Things don’t go much better at home when the washing machine goes berserk, the vacuum takes on a life of its own, the smoke alarm goes off and a couple repairmen are in the house. The ensuing chaos is enough to make me thankful to not yet have any little ones to care for. Though much of the comedy comes from overly absurd moments Keaton is able to make it acceptable by his down to earth performance.

The film also features Martin Mull as Carolyn’s boss at the ad agency, who ends up making unwanted advances and getting a punch in the nose. The same type of treatment is dished out to Jack’s boss, played by Jeffrey Tambor. Though she isn’t punched, Ann Jillian deserved to be as a friend of the couple who flaunts her charm in an attempt to seduce Jack. Christopher Lloyd appears as a co-worker of Jack’s.

Fans of the ‘Young and the Restless’ can catch a glimpse of a young Victor. Yes, I know the names of some of the characters from the soap opera, including Victor who has been a leading patriarch for decades on the daytime serial.

While not laugh out loud funny it is a delightful film, which has a sitcom-like feel and has the required happy ending as peace is restored in the home with all three children surviving their father’s care.

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