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Steve Martin's physical comedy prowess and Carl Reiner's proven ability to write and mount credible comedy combined to make one of the top box office smashes of 1984 and one of the most underrated comedies ever, a minor classic called All of Me, which still provides laughs almost 40 years later.
Edwina Cutwater (Lily Tomlin) is a dying millionairess who has more money that God but not the time to spend it, so she has decided, upon her death, to have her soul transferred into the body of her stableman's daughter, Terry (Victoria Tennant) so that she can continue to live, but something happens during the actual transference and Edwina's soul instead enters the body of Roger Cobb (Martin), the unhappy lawyer who has been hired to get Edwina's legal affairs in order. We then watch Roger's life become extremely complicated as Edwina now has complete control of the right side of Roger's body and becomes fascinated with the abilities afforded by a healthy human body, something she has never experienced.
Reiner and Martin struck comic gold here as we not only watch Martin garner major laughs in a physically tricky and demanding role, but create a character who is actually intelligent and relatable and the not-too-quick development of a relationship with the woman inhabiting his body who he didn't like before this all happened, all complicated by the fact that Terry is only doing this to get her hands on Edwina's money and fights her attraction to Roger to keep her eye on the prize.
Martin's performance is comic gold and there was actual Oscar buzz surrounding his performance at the time, though he didn't get a nomination, I think he should have and he's matched perfectly by Tomlin as an initially unlikable character who is softened after her death and there is a viable chemistry between Martin and Tennant that developed into a real life romance and eventual marriage.
A warm and richly entertaining comedy that provides major belly laughs but, more importantly, will have you smiling throughout.
Edwina Cutwater (Lily Tomlin) is a dying millionairess who has more money that God but not the time to spend it, so she has decided, upon her death, to have her soul transferred into the body of her stableman's daughter, Terry (Victoria Tennant) so that she can continue to live, but something happens during the actual transference and Edwina's soul instead enters the body of Roger Cobb (Martin), the unhappy lawyer who has been hired to get Edwina's legal affairs in order. We then watch Roger's life become extremely complicated as Edwina now has complete control of the right side of Roger's body and becomes fascinated with the abilities afforded by a healthy human body, something she has never experienced.
Reiner and Martin struck comic gold here as we not only watch Martin garner major laughs in a physically tricky and demanding role, but create a character who is actually intelligent and relatable and the not-too-quick development of a relationship with the woman inhabiting his body who he didn't like before this all happened, all complicated by the fact that Terry is only doing this to get her hands on Edwina's money and fights her attraction to Roger to keep her eye on the prize.
Martin's performance is comic gold and there was actual Oscar buzz surrounding his performance at the time, though he didn't get a nomination, I think he should have and he's matched perfectly by Tomlin as an initially unlikable character who is softened after her death and there is a viable chemistry between Martin and Tennant that developed into a real life romance and eventual marriage.
A warm and richly entertaining comedy that provides major belly laughs but, more importantly, will have you smiling throughout.