All of Me | | Cast : | Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin | | Director : | Carl Reiner | | Studio : | Vidmark/Trimark | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned | | Released Date : | September 21, 1984 | | DVD Released Date : | February 02, 1999 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 11, 2005 | | Summary | A difficult concept beautifully executed | Content
 | I don't know how receptive the studios were when this story was pitched but the entire concept must have been a hard sell as well as a hard one to write. Through a series of unfortunate incidents, a rich heiress dies and finds her spirit stuck in the body of a lawyer she recently dismissed. The story largely revolves around how the heiress (Tomlin) and the lawyer (Martin) cope with sharing a body (he gets the left half, she gets the right half) and dealing with their disparate personalities.
Since Tomlin is "trapped" inside Martin, the writers and flimmakers had to come up with a means by which the two characters could face each other and offer a feeling that the heiress's presence could be sensed by the audience at all times even when only Martin was on camera. This was brilliantly and deftly done to comedic and sympathetic effect. The characters are not only funny but you feel for them.
In my opinion, this is Steve Martin's finest work (followed by the greatly underrated Bowfinger). He's good when he's dumb but he's great when he's cleverly quipping and being sarcastic (something he doesn't get to do much of anymore in his movies, unfortunately). His physical comedy is so tremendously good that he never makes the viewer doubt for a second that there is someone else in there with him. And, unlike much physical comedy in movies, it doesn't feel contrived or like a pratfall.
Tomlin is also very good as Edwina, the heiress, but she didn't have as demanding a role as Martin. She does succeed very well in making us empathize with someone who initially seems wholly unappealing and has quite a few good, funny lines of her own. There is a courtroom scene where Edwina has to ad lib while Roger (Martin) is asleep which is particularly nice voice work by Tomlin.
The only thing about this movie that I didn't buy 100% was the romantic chemistry between Tomlin and Martin. I believe there was genuine affection between the actors but their rapport strikes one as more fraternal than romantic. Still, it's a minor issue and perhaps only my subjective take.
Good comedy is hard to come by these days so we should take advantage of the rich library of movies from the recent past and I'm pleased this movie has been released on DVD. I can't imagine anyone not laughing out loud plenty while watching "All of Me." |
| Rating | | | Date | April 19, 2005 | | Summary | Fun! | Content
| This movie is great fun primarily because of the incredible Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin. Their physical comedy and overall talent make you believe in a plot that is outlandishly far-fetched and not always consistent. They are infuriating and endearing at the same time. And, best of all, there is a happy ending!
This is a movie you can watch over and over again and still laugh out loud. Enjoy! |
| Rating | | | Date | March 07, 2005 | | Summary | A COMEDY WITH HEART & SOUL! | Content
| The New York Times review quote... "The best American comedy since Tootsie" that appears on the cover of this DVD sums it up best! "ALL OF ME" achieves what few 80's comedies did, it manages to be smart and funny, superbly Directed by Carl Reiner. Before Steve Martin became king of the remake ("FATHER OF THE BRIDE", "SGT. BILKO", "OUT OF TOWNERS", "CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN") he scored big with this original comedy gem taking home a Golden Globe for Best Actor! Ms. Tomlin is flawless! A great comic team who only worked together again for a brief scene in the drama "AND THE BAND PLAYED ON" It would be great to see Martin and Tomlin team up again either on the big or small screen. About this DVD edition... overall poor picture (full screen) and sound (mono) quality! with only the trailer and scene selection as special features. I would love to see Anchor Bay get this title and do their deluxe style DVD treatment! Widescreen, original featurette, new cast and crew interviews! Until that time at least we have this great film on DVD! An inferior DVD edition but, at least it's on DVD! Look for it at your local major retail department store... in the bargain bin! Enjoy! |
| Rating | | | Date | October 29, 2004 | | Summary | In summary... | Content
| Steve Martin's physical comedy doesn't overshadow his character's soul-sharing experience. Lilly Tomlin puts on airs as a dead debutante. The two make an exceptional comedic team. The way they play off one another is what makes this movie fun to watch. Of course, a beautiful two-faced antagonist, a spiritual advisor who speaks broken English and a blind jazzman also help make the movie what it is: a fantastical 1980s comedy with a spirited heart. |
| Rating | | | Date | September 08, 2004 | | Summary | Fun! | Content
| Imagine if you had to share your body with your mortal enemy, the one person you hated when they were alive, but even more now that they're dead? That's the situation plaguing Steve Martin in "All of Me."
Martin played lawyer Roger Cobb, in perhaps one of his greatest early films. Lily Tomlin also dazzles as dying and quite uptight heiress/millionaire Edwina Cutwater. The way these two conversed at her house in the earliest scenes of the film, they were practically shooting daggers at each other. I was waiting for her to punch him. Well, maybe not, but they really went at each other. the truth is, all Edwina did was feel sorry for her self. But being trapped in Roger and seeing life from another perspective taught her that life is what you make of it, and that everyone needs to live a little.
Though the beginning lacks any real interest, the film builds up to an interesting plot, and a very happy ending. However, I felt that some key parts were exceptionally well done. The parts I found exciting and funny are the scene where Roger struggles for control of his own body on the sidewalk, while screaming and flinging himself around. The bathroom scene, in which Edwina grabs his "Mr Ed." or "Little Fireman" too hard, sending him screaming around the bathroom in pain. Another is the attempted sex scenes. Why do I say attempted? Because the first one is performed when Edwina is sleeping, but she wakes up and Roger can't control himself anymore.
The basic moral of the story is that we have to learn to live, and life isn't always how you want it to be. If you like Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin and want to se a great film, then check out this classic 1984 flick!
By the way...if you want to save some money, I found a copy of this for six dollars at best buy...Just FYI |
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