A male chauvinist is transported to a matriarchal society, facing challenges from a formidable female version of himself.
Chuck says:
The issue of gender inequality gets a Dickensian twist in Thea Sharrock’s “Ladies First,” a clever, timely satire that turns the workplace dynamic on its head. Driven by a veteran cast, the film takes a page from “A Christmas Carol” by providing its main character with a glimpse of an alternate reality, an experience that leads to an overdue reformation. Pithy and smart, the sincerity of the movie’s message isn’t obscured by the bawdy humor but rather bolstered by it, its many gags effectively underscoring the ridiculous nature of its theme.
Damien Sachs (Sacha Baron Cohen) isn’t just living his best life, he’s living every man’s best life. A high-ranking executive at the Atlas Agency, an English advertising firm, he waltzes through life, oblivious to his chauvinistic behavior. And why shouldn’t he? No one has called him out on his behavior and his success only justifies his actions. However, that’s about to change in the most unexpected way.
Suffering a mild concussion after walking briskly into a street sign, Sachs wakes up to a world he doesn’t recognize. Seems women are now the dominant sex. Holding positions of importance and power across the spectrum, all media is geared towards objectifying men and bolstering female superiority. The Catholic Church is led by Pope Beatrice, “Donna Quixote” is a well-known classic and the slogan “My Sperm, My Choice” is a rallying cry for male reproductive rights.
However, what concerns Sachs most is the state of affairs at Atlas. His office and position are now occupied by Alex Fox (Rosamund Pike), a creative director who was promoted in an effort to quell charges of sexism in his timeline. Sachs finds things have been turned upside down as he’s ignored and ridiculed at every turn, treatment he exhibited towards Fox without a second thought.
It’s a simple premise but effective nonetheless. To be sure, there’s some low-hanging comedic fruit plucked along the way – the mother walks her son down the aisle – as the suddenly weaker sex, Sachs is made a cat owner – however screenwriters Natalie Krinsky, Cinco Paul and Katie Silberman aren’t afraid to tackle the most extreme examples of sexism in an effort to shed light on the damage caused by these actions. A makeover Sachs undergoes is painful and humiliating, while an incident of sexual harassment in which he’s forced to perform for his insensitive CEO (Fiona Shaw) proves to be more uncomfortable than funny, a shift in tone that effectively drives home the humiliating nature of this act.
Known for his extreme characterizations and outsized performances, Baron Cohen has always been a polarizing performer. That he’s able to convey vulnerability and empathy here after Sachs learns his lesson is refreshing, the actor surprisingly as effective in scenes of introspection as well as the comedic. Pike is in her element, giving a broadly humorous performance as the boorish female chauvinist. It’s obvious she’s deriving great glee in sporting the shoe on the other foot. In addition to Shaw, veteran actors Charles Dance, Richard E. Grant, Kathryn Hunter and Emily Mortimer appear in supporting roles, each bringing more to the parts than they deserve.
While the film won’t lead to any further cracks being made in the glass ceiling, it proves to be a surprisingly effective commentary on a continuing social problem. And while some steps have been taken to rectify the disparity between the sexes in the job market, “Ladies” reminds us that many more changes need to be made to level the playing field.
3 Stars
