Discovery: The Nucleus Of Gender Bending In Film

Discovery: the Nucleus of Gender Bending in Film

The most memorable scene in a good gender bender is the revelation scene, where the other characters learn that the protagonist is not who they appear to be. The three films Some Like it Hot, Tootsie, and Mrs. Doubtfire feature the best discovery scenes of the genre. Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire rely heavily on anticipation and suspense to make the revelation scenes entertaining while Some Like it Hot utilizes verbal humor to make a classic discovery scene. The theme of discovery also displays itself in the self-discovery of the central characters. Michael, Daniel, Joe, and Jerry each discover something about themselves when looking at life through a different lens. The revelation scene in
Doubtfire are a genuine surprise to both the protagonist and the supporting characters. Daniel didn’t reveal his identity with a momentous monologue but rather with three separate slip-ups. First, his son walks in on Mrs. Doubtfire micturating standing up, a very funny scene because of both the visual awkwardness of the elderly woman taking a leak and because of Chris’s frantic reaction, “He’s a she, she’s a he!” The following discovery exposures both occur at Bridges restaurant, where our filmmakers have mapped out a very well put together climax to the movie. Mrs. Doubtfire has been invited to dine with the Hillard family in honor of Miranda’s birthday while Daniel is scheduled to have a dinner meeting with the producer Jonathan Lundy. Daniel attempts to literally be two people at once, and succeeds brilliantly until he returns from the restroom and sits at Lundy’s table, having forgotten he is still dressed as Mrs. Doubtfire. He’s able to play off the mishap by explaining that he’s in costume to show Lundy the new star character of his children’s show. Right as Daniel is beginning to win over Lundy, Stu – Miranda’s new friend a potential love interest – begins to choke. Mrs. Doubtfire darts through the restaurant and performs a violent Heimlich maneuver on the choking prick, which is hilarious for it’s physical suggestiveness and over-the-top slapstick qualities. The use of foreshadowing ties the scene together very well (we
When Sugar finds out that Joe is actually Josefine (when he kisses her on stage) she’s surprisingly not upset in the least bit and the audience is left with the two lovebirds kissing on the boat. The more memorable unveiling is that of Jerry, who is attempting to dissuade the old millionaire Osgood from marrying him. The hilarious exchange goes like