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I totally loved this movie, I wasn't too sure of it at first but it was much more than I expected in a move with Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin. I think that Lily and Steve work really well together, I just think that the humor that they give each other is great. I've loved Steve in Sgt. Bilko and both Father of the Brides and Lily does great in 9 to 5 and Big Business, but I really like them both together. Does anyone else that saw this movie think that the two should have done more work together? What do you all think about them?

"You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try to kill each other like civilized people?"

ALL OF ME (1984) *** Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin, Victoria Tennant, Madolyn Smith, Richard Libertini, Jason Bernard, Dana Elcar, Selma DIamond. Screwball comedy/fantasy that features Martin's true comic genius as a lawyer who becomes the host for a deceased client's spirit, sharing her persona with hilarious results. Martin's physical movements are a stitch and Tomlin is an able foil as the eccentric lost soul. Directed with flair by Carl Reiner.

Put all thoughts of Sgt. Bilko and The Pink Panther out of your mind: let us remember Steve Martin when he was at the top of his game, an uproariously funny comic with his own special brand of zany physical humour. All Of Me, directed by Carl Reiner, sees Martin starring as Roger Cobb, a struggling lawyer who unwittingly becomes host to the spirit of recently deceased millionairess Edwina Cutwater (Lily Tomlin) after her plan to transmigrate her soul into the body of stableman's daughter Terry (Victoria Tennant) goes terribly wrong.

With Edwina controlling one half of Roger's body, the silver haired comedian is given ample opportunity to showcase his wacky style of comedy and does so with gusto; the result is a memorable central performance from Martin in a consistently funny film that also sees co-star Tomlin on fine form as the lonely rich woman who, in death, learns to enjoy life and who finally makes a friend.

Breezy direction from Reiner ensures a lively pace, the action accompanied by a suitably jazzy score, with comedy highlights including Roger visiting the men's room with a little help from Edwina (tap tap), a hilarious courtroom scene wherein Edwina takes control while Roger sleeps, and a wonderfully silly bedroom scene where Roger attempts to have sex with Terry while Edwina is taking a nap.

All of Me shares with a whole heap of wonderful screwball comedies an extremely straightforward method: Employ absolute reason in dealing with the ridiculous. Start with a wacky scenario, set up the rules, and adhere to them. The laughs occur when everyday human nature comes into quarrel with bizarre incidents. Carl Reiner has made a significant contribution to contemporary American comedy, both as a performer and director. Working exclusively in the genre of comedy, his films range from slapstick humor to sophisticated comic parodies of classical Hollywood genres. He chooses to bring other genres to his comedy rather than comedy to other genres.

The plot and its treatment may be light as a feather, but we can relate to virtually all of the intentions of the characters. There is, for instance, the millionaire bachelorette Lily Tomlin, who wants to live forever and thinks she has discovered a way to do that. There is the discontented lawyer Steve Martin, who is distractedly depressed with his work and will do anything to get a promotion, even indulge nut-case clients like Tomlin. There is the wicked Victoria Tennant, who plans to viciously swindle Tomlin, and there is the extraordinarily hilarious Prahka, who innocently expects to transmit Tomlin's soul into a brass pot, and the put it in Tennant's body. There is, nonetheless, a dreadful psychic blunder, and when Tomlin dies, she transmigrates instead into Martin's body.

The second the premise begins to fire off laughs is the second it's executed: the first time Martin has to contend with this foreign female being inside his brain. He keeps command of the left side of his body. She commands the right. They are struggling to cross the sidewalk together, each in their own way, and this sets up a frenzied tug-of-war only a razor-sharp physical comedian like Martin could pull off. Tomlin vanishes into Martin's body, but she does not vanish from the movie. Her reflection can be seen in mirrors, and there is some superb timing concerned with the way they play scenes with one another's mirror images. For another thing, there is a genuine feeling of her presence even when Martin is alone on the screen. And lighthearted as the movie may be, it scores a lot of points by speculating on the ways in which a man and a woman could learn to coexist thusly.

Frankly, even above Martin's masterful antics, my favorite might be Richard Libertini as the indecipherably Indian Prahka, who repeats words he doesn't understand in a tone of complete agreement. Yet, although All of Me is the last of the four Martin/Reiner collaborations, it gives Martin one of his all-time best screen opportunities to highlight his brilliant kind of physical slapstick. Watch Roger/Edwina have a go at walking down the street, or going to the bathroom, or making love with the surprisingly sexy Tennant. Each action is an awe-inspiring exhibition of fractured dexterity. Watch right-side Edwina assume responsibility in a courtroom, as left-side Roger falls asleep and the ever-so-feminine Edwina moves their body in a bizarrely macho swagger. The actor's challenge is hopelessly problematical---Steve Martin playing Lily Tomlin playing Roger Cobb---and superbly accomplished.

Over the history of cinema, there are certain Director/Lead Actor pairings that are perfect for each other. John Ford/John Wayne, Alfred Hitchcock/Jimmy Stewart, Martin Scorcese/Robert DeNiro, Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks all come to mind. Add to that the inspired comedic pairing of Director Carl Reiner and the great Steve Martin.

Starting with THE JERK (1979), Martin and Reiner would make 4 films together the last of which was the 1984 comedy ALL OF ME starring Martin and Lilly Tomlin. And like all Reiner/Martin comedies this one is smartly written with heart and a physically comedic performance by Martin that must be seen to believed.

Martin stars as Lawyer Martin Cobb, an aspiring musician who views his lawyer job as a means to support his dream of becoming a musician. Lilly Tomlin co-stars as one of Martin's clients - a dour, serious millionaire who's dying wish is to have her soul transferred into the body of a younger woman. When the transfer goes wrong, Tomlin finds herself inside Martin's body and the two polar opposites spar each other whilst inside the same body.

A pretty ridiculous premise that is executed wonderfully under the watchful Direction of Reiner. He pushes the premise far - but not too far - focusing (wisely) most of the attention of this movie on Martin and his body's maniacal behavior as both Martin and Tomlin wrestle for control of his body.

Martin, of course, is perfectly cast in a role that was tailor made for him. His physical comedy skills are well used by Reiner and the scene of Martin walking down the street in control of the left side of his body while Tomlin is in control of the right side of his body is worth the price of admission right there. But Martin brings a heart and warmth to his character as well as his well known personae of a person who thinks he is the only sane one in the room - where, in fact, he is the INSANE one.

Tomlin fares less well in her role - being trapped (literally) inside Martin's body and is only seen as reflections in a mirror. Here character is the polar opposite of Martin's, so while Martin is "wild and crazy", she is dour and buttoned up - and this doesn't do her any favors.

Special notice needs to be made of Richard Libertini's turn as Prahka Lasa, the well-meaning "yogi" who is the conduit of the body switching soul. His limited English, earnest and well meaning almost steals the film from Martin.

All in all, an enjoyable evening at the movies which showcases Reiner's ability as a Director and Martin's ability as a gifted, physical comedian very well.

Letter Grade: B+

7 1/2 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)