[FilmReview]9to5(1980)7.3/10

9TO5isasdelightfulandjollyasonecangetinacomedythathassomethingtosaybutconsciouslyshirksanytraceofindoctrination.Threefemalecompanyemployeeswagewaragainsttheir“sexist,egotistical,lying,hypocriticalbigot”bossinthisprototype80ssisterhoodcomedy,9TO5isthelateColinHiggins’secondfeaturefilmandflexesthemuscleoffemalestarpowerwhichnotonlybringsdownthehouse,butalsosetsalightitsboxoffice,therunner-uptop-grosserofitsyear,secondonlytoSTARWARS:THEEMPIRESTRIKESBACK.TheFonda-Tomlin-Partontrinityembodiesthreedifferenttypesofcareerwomen,Fonda’sJudyisahousewifegrosslyjiltedbyherex-husbandforhissecretary,sosheisthegreenhornintheworkplace,prissybutnotwithoutwitsandguts,herfrillyentranceisremarkablyincongruouswiththerest,althoughherclashwiththebossFrank(Coleman)ismosttangentialamongthethree,herpersonalvictoryclimaxedwhensheblurtsouttoherfecklessex-husbandthatbeingdumpedbyhimisthebestthingeverhappenedtoher.Tomlin’sVioletisawidowwithabroodoffour,theassertiveseniorofficesupervisorwhohasploddedforyearsinthecompany,yetthepromotionshedeservesprovestobeunattainablebecauseofFrankx27;ssexism,andaggravatedbybeingorderedaboutlikeaservantbyhim,shehaseveryreasontogetbackathim;Parton’sDoralee(hermaidenpicture,whoalsopensandbeltsouttheOscar-nominatedtitlesong),acorn-fed,bosomysecretaryrepulsesthederogatedstereotypeasaboss-huntingschemer,whoisindeedhappilymarriedandonlyhumorsFrank’sadvancementforthesakeofthejob,butinthefaceofFrankblabberingblackmail,sheistheonewhoisnothesitanttopinionhimlikeasteer.Truly,thetriadenjoysarealblasttogether,initiatedbyajoint-influencedbrainstormabouthoweachenvisionsascenariotoventtheirgrievanceonFrank-hereHigginsmakesagoodfistofgenreconventions,whetheritisablack-whitemobthriller,alasso-tossingoateroraSnowWhiteanimationwithadarkspin,allaregivenarealitysimulacrumlaterintheplot-andhitsthemarkduringtheirhilariousblunderwiththewrongbody,althoughtheresultantkidnappingideaislesswhollyengagingforitsyawningimplausibility,notleastwhenthedeusexmachinacomesaboutintheformofSterlingHayden’schairmanoftheboard,publiclyasksequalpaytobeeliminatedfromthereformprogram,whichisactuallyconceivedbythetriadandexecutedbyforgingHank’ssignature.Nonetheless,9TO5isasdelightfulandjollyasonecangetinacomedythathassomethingtosaybutconsciouslyavoidsanytraceofindoctrination,allthreeleadingladiesarehavingafieldday,butformylikingTomlinistheonegetsanupperhandforhersteelynerveandcomedictiming;astheantagonist,aversatileColemaneloquentlyexhibitsshamelesswickednesstothehilt,andlastly,ElizabethWilsonhasherownmomentasabrillianttittle-tattler,whoperfectlyencapsulatestheentirefarcewithapreciselyuttered“Holymerde!”tobringdownthecurtaininthecoda.referentialentries:Higgins’FOULPLAY(1978,5.4/10);SethGordonx27;sHORRIBLEBOSSES(2011,5.3/10).本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。