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.

Featuring one of the funniest on-screen duos in film history, this comedy of pratfalls is an absolute goofy delight that more than 35 years after being released, is still fresh and delightful. Steve Martin, a powerful L.A. lawyer by career and saxophone player by design, he ends up in one of the strangest ordeals ever thanks to his association with dying heiress Lily Tomlin whose plan to have her soul implanted in the body of the gardener's daughter, the alluring Victoria Tennant. Martin can't stand the spoiled Tomlin but by chance, her soul ends up in his body along side his thanks to a mixup by hysterically droll Richard Libertini as a swami.

With Tennant left the bulk of Tomlin's estate, it's not a surprise that she is agreeable, certain that Tomlin is looney tunes. But when she realizes that Tomlin is indeed inside Martin, Tennant schemes to get rid of Libertini and seduce Martin, even though it's obvious that they'll find out what she's up to. In the meantime, there's a lot of funny monkey business involving Martin's boss, Dana Elcar, whom he is representing in a very expensive divorce case.

This has a sensationally wacky script with a terrific ensemble including Selma Diamond as Martin's acerbic secretary, Madolyn Smith as Martin's girlfriend flustered by his behavior, Eric Christmas as Tennant's hardworking father and Jason Bernard as the blind saxophone player whom Martin often jams with. This has a ton of famous quotes, one involving Tomlin aiding Martin in relieving himself a real snorter. But the one I keep repeating is Libertini's delightfully accepted "Back in bowl" that seems like a throwaway line but is so much more. Why Martin didn't get an Oscar nomination for this (and several other terrific films) is one of Hollywood's biggest mistakes.

During the early movie career of Steve Martin, he excelled at playing nutty, weirdo characters--and it was all a natural extension of his strange stand-up act. However, in 1984 he expanded his acting skills by appearing in a couple films where he played a relatively normal guy. I loved "The Lonely Guy" and today I finally got around to seeing "All of Me".

Roger (Steve Martin) is a lawyer who has been called to the home of an extremely narcissistic and unpleasant rich lady who is dying, Edwina (Lily Tomlin). What she asks of him convinces Roger that she's insane....she wants to will her fortune to a stranger who has agreed to allow Edwina's soul to enter her body! Apparently, she's found some weird guru who claims to be able to transfer her to another body. Also, she and Roger hate each other...and she is determined to destroy his career before she dies. However, through a freak accident, as she dies, the soul is transferred into Roger's...and the pair must learn to work together to locate the guru and have him remove her from Roger!

Of course, when Edwina and Roger are together, it's pretty goofy...no, it's VERY goofy. But in the moments before this, Martin plays the role rather straight...an interesting change of pace.

So is it any good? Yes...mostly because it's a nice change of pace for the actors...plus the story is most unusual, and I appreciate originality. Not among Martin's very best...but still quite good.