User reviews

As a big fan of Dustin Hoffman's and of "Tootsie," my first thought was, of course, that this was a rehash with the same basic plot, just in a different language. All similarities aside (and you may judge for yourself whether it's a good or a bad "remake"), I have to say one thing that puts this movie far above all other "men in drag" movies: Even while I was fully aware at all times that I was looking at a man pretending to be a woman, this is the only film that ever convinced me that nobody around him would see through the disguise. Matthias Schweighöfer seemed perfectly at ease in high heels and never looked like Curtis and Lemmon in "Some Like It Hot" or Hoffman in "Tootsie" or Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire" -- he WAS a woman on screen, and he could have played the role of a woman from the beginning to the end AS a woman, without anybody in the audience realizing he's a man (unless you know him or read the credits). In this sense, this movie should be the benchmark for all future films of this kind.

Every review I read made the inevitable comparisons to Tootsie. Yes, they are both about actors posing as a woman because they need the work. There are other similarities in the story arc, but there are many touches that I found set this apart. The fun it pokes at "Hollywood" - the megalithic American film industry, is again, not groundbreaking, but quite funny. The actors getting a little too wrapped up in their roles is also amusing considering the roles they're playing. This is light comedy done quite competently. The story arc may not be terribly unique or memorable, but for this viewer, as a series of amusing moments rather than a satisfying whole, it's not a bad watch. Sorry if this review seems tepid. It may not be a great film, but it's a good film. I don't regret the time spent watching it. If expectations are modest, you may enjoy it too.