Soapdish: A Quick Review

I always wanted to see "Soapdish" and thanks to IMDB/Hulu I got to watch it recently, for free, which made me very happy.  The movie was released in 1991 and was directed by Michael Hoffman.  It boasts a cast of extraordinarily talented actors including Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Robert Downey Jr., and Whoopi Goldberg. Garry Marshall and Carrie Fisher have smaller roles.  The title of the movie is actually quite descriptive of the plot, which surrounds the behind the scenes goings on of a soap opera.  Sally Field plays Celeste Talbert, the star of the fictional soap opera "The Sun Also Sets"...sounds like a keeper to me.  To say the least she is extremely difficult to work with and gets thrown for a curveball when her ex-lover, Jeffery Anderson joins the cast of the show.  If I learned anything from watching "Tootsie," it is that a movie about the making of a soap opera can be extremely funny.  "Soapdish" doesn't have any cross-dressing like the aforementioned, but has a similar feel, although "Tootsie" is the better, more quality movie.  As it turns out what's going on backstage of the daytime soap opera (quite positively the worst television genre ever imagined) is full of more drama and unexpected surprises than the show itself.  This leads to some funny scenes including Kevin Kline attempting to read off of a teleprompter without the aid of his glasses.  I won't spoil any of the actual surprises in the movie, since I know deep down the average American wants to watch "Soapdish" at least once.  Well, the cast is great.  Everyone plays their over the top, disfunctional characters perfectly.  Sally Field and Whoopi Goldberg share some of the movies best scenes together.  It's a shame that these two have not had major film roles in a while, they are incredibly talented women.  So if you enjoy a funny movie with a great cast, then check this out.  If you hate the cast, then avoid "Soapdish" at all costs, because they make the movie.

-Joseph Sbrilli