Review: '9 to 5' is classic feminist work revenge comedy

Nine to Five (9 to 5)   PG      

            Colin Higgins (Harold and Maude) directed this classic 1980 sexual office politics comedy called '9 to 5', back when that actually was a work schedule. (It helped that the critic's family are avid feminists also). A trio of ornery office ladies are tormented by their chauvinistic and brilliantly evil boss, who they then plot to assassinate in a bar, via drugged coffee, but when he turns up alive they boss nap him and humiliate him in hilarious ways. Sounds like the ideal makeup for a horror movie, but it's a funny 'revenge comedy' from the early 80s when such comedies were starting to be common, ala Higgins' later work 'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas', and 'Porky's'. Raunchy comedies of the time often had an underdog plot where the little guy, or gal, beats the system and kicks some tail. In this case, Parton and Fonda are in top form and funny, and it helps that Parton was this big star at the time. All star cast is well noted and the boss is the great Dabney Coleman. As the age of feminism was growing older it become necessary to both rib it and celebrate it. They just can't make this kind of movie anymore. 
Review by Adam Browne