Solo pour deux

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.

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.

'All of Me' is a genuinely funny film, but it's Steve Martin who stands out with a Magnificent Performance. Martin, a genius, delivers one of his very best performances in here!

'All of Me' Synopsis: A dying millionaire has her soul transferred into a younger, willing woman. But something goes wrong, and she finds herself in her lawyer's body - together with the lawyer.

'All of Me' is genuinely funny & well-written. Like it's catchy story-line, this classic comedy is interesting & engaging. Screenplay by Phil Alden Robinson & Henry O, is quite funny. Carl Reiner's Direction is decent. Cinematography, Editing & Art Design, are functional.

Performance-Wise: Martin stands out, literally! He delivers such a Magnificent Performance! Lily Tomlin is wonderful & compliments Martin very well. Victoria Tennant is first-rate. Richard Libertini is fantastic. Madolyn Smith Osborne & Dana Elcar are good. Jason Bernard is passable.

On the whole, 'All of Me' is a winner.

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.

Yesterday I watched this movie for the 5th or 6th time, now on DVD. Certainly it is one of the most delightful comedies of the 80's. Steve Martin is a lawyer by career and musician by hobby who shares the soul of a selfish millionaire (Lily Tomlin) during an unsuccessful transmigration to the body of the character of Victoria Tennant. The situations are so funny, the magnificent cast is so sharp (specially Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin), that the viewer will certainly love this movie. Please stay watching it until the end of the credits, when you will see Steve Martin falling down while dancing with Lily Tomlin. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Um Espírito Baixou em Mim" ("One Spirit Possessed Me")