Movie · 1984 · Comedy, Fantasy, Romance · 1h 33m · PG · English
Curator score: 5.4/10 (21.5K ratings)
They say that behind every great man there's a woman. But in this case it's ridiculous.
Overview
Just before stubborn millionaire Edwina Cutwater dies, she asks her uptight lawyer, Roger Cobb, to amend her will so that her soul will pass to the young, vibrant Terry Hoskins – but the spiritual transference goes awry. Edwina enters Roger's body instead, forcing him to battle Edwina for control of his own being.
Ratings
Curator score: 5.4/10
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Metacritic: 68
TMDB: 6.5/10
Director
Carl Reiner
Production
Universal Pictures, Kings Road Entertainment, Old Times Productions
Cast
Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin, Victoria Tennant, Madolyn Smith Osborne, Richard Libertini, Dana Elcar, Jason Bernard, Selma Diamond, Eric Christmas, Gailard Sartain, Neva Patterson, Michael Ensign, Peggy Feury, Nan Martin, Basil Hoffman, Hedley Mattingly, Harvey Vernon, Stu Black, Marilyn Tokuda, David Byrd
Where to watch
Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A breezy, high-concept 1980s screwball comedy that works because Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin fully commit to the absurd body-swap premise. It’s a little shaggy, but the physical comedy, romantic spark, and old-Hollywood timing make it an easy recommendation for fans of offbeat studio comedies.
Best for
fans of body-swap comedies with a romantic angle
viewers who like sharp comic performances and physical comedy
people in the mood for a light, clever 1980s crowd-pleaser
fans of screwball energy and odd-couple chemistry
Skip if
you want tightly plotted comedy with no tonal wobble
you dislike broad farce or premise-driven humor
you prefer modern pacing and contemporary sensibilities
body-swap stories and romantic fantasy premises usually annoy you
Overview
All of Me is one of those studio comedies that survives on pure comic conviction. The premise is ridiculous, but Carl Reiner stages it with enough confidence that the movie never feels embarrassed by its own silliness. Steve Martin’s physical control is the engine, and Lily Tomlin gives the whole thing a wonderfully dry, exasperated counterweight.
Worth noting
What makes it linger is the chemistry: the movie turns a supernatural gag into a genuine odd-couple romance, with enough warmth to keep the farce from floating away. It has that late-40s screwball feel Letterboxd users often point to, even while leaning into 1980s broad comedy and a few knowingly corny jokes.
Bottom line
It’s not perfectly polished, and some of the plotting is loose, but that looseness is part of the charm. If you like comedies that are a little weird, a little romantic, and very committed to the bit, this is an easy watch.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Matt Singer (4★) · 312 likes
Other movies I would like to see starring Steve Martin while he is also half Lily Tomlin:
1) Face/Off2) The Jerk3) Casablanca4) Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives5) The King’s Speech6) Every other movie ever made
Justin LaLiberty (3.5★) · 147 likes
"How dare you say penis to a dead person"
matt lynch (3.5★) · 135 likes
Has this delightful late 40's sensibility...like if you'd told me this was a Mitch Leisen movie (Jean Arthur, maybe Joel McCrea), I'd believe you.
theo (2★) · 96 likes
lily tomlin was quite literally his sprit animal
Josh Gillam (3★) · 92 likes
Lawyer Roger Cobb (Steve Martin) finds his life upended when eccentric client Edwina Cutwater (Lily Tomlin) accidentally inhabits his body after she dies, and the two have to work together to set things right, in Carl Reiner’s fantasy comedy co-starring Victoria Tennant, Dana Elcar, Jason Bernard, Eric Christmas and Selma Diamond.
Martin and Tomlin have a great dynamic, working really well together and managing to sell a potentially over-the-top premise by really committing to their roles. As the two central… more