Working Girl (1988) User Reviews

"She's your man"

[Steffi_P · 8/10 · 29 November 2011]

Although the 60s and 70s are thought of as the age of feminism, it wasn't really until the 80s that women really achieved a bit of equality in movie land. But this being a less radical time, the dramas about powerful women tended to be a synthesis of Women's Lib and Reagan era entrepreneurial optimism. This is after all what success meant in that decade. But of-its-time as it is, Working Girl is still an entertaining and uplifting picture.

Written by Kevin Wade, Working Girl is a nice, neatly-constructed story. On a broad level it could be seen a black-and-white tale of good guys and bad guys. But what saves the characters from appearing one-dimensional is that they are written with a great deal of knowing realism. Who hasn't worked for a boss like Sigourney Weaver's character, or been cheated on by a jerk like Alec Baldwin's? One thing that keeps Working Girl engaging is that, while not an out-and-out comedy it is often tentatively funny in the way that real life is funny, such as Alec Baldwin's futile claim that "This isn't what it looks like".

The effectiveness of Working Girl often hinges on the way its characters are projected. On paper, Tess McGill isn't necessarily sympathetic, and neither is Katherine Parker necessarily unpleasant, at least not in the first half of the movie. However, Melanie Griffith portrays the lead with enough drive to appear credible as a go-getter, but all wrapped in a kind of sensitive charm that makes her likable. It's lucky she didn't inherit her mother's steeliness. And Sigourney Weaver manages to convey a smug and patronising manner that is only hinted at in the script, but never quite overdoing it so it is still believable that Griffith initially warms to her. Harrison Ford is at his best too, moulding the role round his limited range by giving a business-world version of his usual level-headed action hero type.

If you're a fan of the look of this era, Working Girl will be a real treat for the eyes – everything from glorious cityscapes to pouffy dresses. I'm glad director Mike Nichols puts such an emphasis on places and props, without loosing sight of the people of course. The changing fashions of the decade are even woven into the movie's themes, as Griffith swaps her hairsprayed bouffant and dangly bangles for an elegant, simple look. Working Girl is an incredibly 80s movie, but it's also the death of 80s extravagance we're witnessing there on screen. Of course, she still wears a pair of pink glasses with rims the size of beermats, but there you go. 80s extravagance died hard.

Career Women with Big Ideas and Even Bigger Hair

[evanston_dad · 8/10 · 27 July 2008]

A pure fantasy served up by Mike Nichols, but a vastly entertaining one.

Melanie Griffith is the secretary with massive hair who pretends to be a corporate business woman when her boss is layed up with a broken leg. The catch is, she finds out she's pretty good at it, and things get complicated when she ends up spearheading a business deal and falling in love with her key partner (Harrison Ford), all the while trying to keep what she's doing from her boss (Sigourney Weaver). It's the kind of movie that could just as easily have been made as a screwball comedy in the 1940s, perhaps with Barbara Stanwyck in the lead role.

The film is a classic in its own small way, one of the best comedies to emerge from the 1980s. Griffith is matched well with her role, so her limitations as an actress don't draw too much attention to themselves. But it's Weaver who steals the show as Griffith's imperious boss. She's a riot as a confident and powerful career woman from hell. And Joan Cusack steals a few scenes of her own as Griffith's best friend and fellow secretary, who sports hair as big as Griffith's and a Joisy accent to boot.

Nichols knows how to direct a comedy so that the funny bits speak for themselves.

Grade: A

Delightful uplifting tale for any decade.

[hitchcockthelegend · 8/10 · 4 March 2008]

Firstly let me say that I'm stunned at the mediocre rating this film has on this site, secondly I disagree with those users who say the film is too 80s and hasn't aged well because it's central theme fits into any time frame, it is in fact universal in life.

On the surface the film appears to only operate purely as a romantic feel good movie, but scratch away the surface and you find that a great deal of intelligence is coursing thru the veins of this Mike Nichols effort. Dealing with the harshness of trying to get on in the world of business, I found that the film is saying that grit and determination can get you breaks if you have the brains to seize the opportunity, be strong and maybe you can prosper, now it may not always be the case that such endeavours are rewarded, but at least you can say you tried.

A never better Melanie Grifith plays Tess McGill with much heart and passion, and I'm sure that is in no small part down to the adroit people skills that director Mike Nicholls obviously has. Sigourney Weaver & Joan Cusack are equally impressive, with Weaver seeming to relish the role of dastardly boss woman Katharine Parker, whilst Harrison Ford is simply spot on as the love interest with the smart business acumen helping Tess in her quest to make it in the often harsh world of business.

A film with appeal for both sexes, and this particular macho viewer punched the air at the end in appreciation for a fitting finale, good work all round here, 8/10.

Love and Drama in the Big Apple

[Uriah43 · 7/10 · 17 October 2018]

"Tess McGill" (Melanie Griffith) is a hard-working woman who is trying to climb the corporate ladder but can't seem to get anybody to give her a fair chance. So after being fired from her current position at a Wall Street investment firm for refusing to sleep with her boss's friend she is assigned to work as a secretary for a female business executive named "Katherine Parker" (Sigourney Weaver). At first, Tess likes her new situation as Katherine promises to mentor her so that she can achieve her goals. However, her admiration for her new boss changes when Tess learns that Katherine has recently stolen one of her ideas and is in the process of promoting it as her own. So when Katherine is temporarily side-lined with a broken leg Tess decides to take matters into her own hands and advance the idea on her own. And to do that she turns to an investment broker named "Jack Trainer" (Harrison Ford) who is skilled in the art of finance and can help her close the deal. What she doesn't count on is the budding romance between them-or the fact that Jack just happens to be Katherine's boyfriend. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that I liked the chemistry between Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford and thought that both of them performed their roles in an excellent manner. Likewise, Sigourney Weaver was equally effective as the vicious boss from hell that believes that rules and ethics don't apply in her case. Be that as it may, I recommend this movie to anyone looking for a romantic-comedy of this type and have rated it accordingly. Above average.

The stars align and the movie clicks

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 13 October 2016]

"Working Girl" is one of those movies I've put off for years; and I guess it's partly because I'd known it as a romantic comedy, but mostly because I've never been a Melanie Griffith fan.

Turns out she's the movie's best feature, fitting well as an ambitious secretary who can't get ahead, someone who takes the corporate ladder by force. Actually, all three of the stars were ideal, but Ford and Weaver seemed to be supporting Griffith. She just seemed to embody that empowered career woman who sheds her mousy constraints.

And it is a romantic comedy, but a subtle one. The humor is expressed in the dialogue and I found myself laughing more than I'd expected. It's an '80s movie down to its very DNA and pretty much everything about it still holds up.

7/10

Tess McGill

[dk777 · 7/10 · 12 May 2021]

This is an example of how to make fun and interesting characters that you can empathize with. It's something that today's entertainment industry has mostly forgotten about.

The film is fun, and the cast is not bad. Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver and Harrison Ford are a great combination. This is a true product of its time and as such is superior to most of today's films.

From the beginning, you sympathize with Tess McGill because the character is well written and not irritating, and the story is well balanced, with different characters, good and bad and those in between.

Sigourney Weaver is excellent in the role of the villain, and Melanie Griffith is great as Tess McGill, a secretary who wants to succeed in the business world.

In this film, not all women are saints, but women of flesh and blood, with their flaws and with whom you can sympathize, and men are the same, different, some are bad some are good, just like in real life.

An interesting and fun story with a good cast.

Working Girl Works Its Way into Your Heart ***1/2

[edwagreen · 9/10 · 13 June 2011]

Very good film about a young lady, going to night school to get her degree, and further understanding a business career. Melanie Griffith is absolutely delightful in the lead role as that girl. She sees that along the way, you need a push to get ahead and also be at the right places at the right time under the correct circumstances with the people in the know. She also sees a tyrannical boss (Sigourney Weaver) who will take advantage of you and even borrow your great ideas to accomplish her own goals.

Harrison Ford is great as the man in the corporate world, who also is attached to the Weaver character. Philip Bosco is the big boss you want to please and Alec Baldwin, so young and thin, represents the life Griffith wants to get away from.

The wonderful film is almost a more serious "How to Succeed" type of picture. Griffith and Weaver were nominated for Oscars as best actress and supporting actress, respectively.

A dated but enjoyable satire

[Chris-463 · 25 March 1999]

Watching Working Girl ten years after its release, it's hard not to dismiss it as a dated satire of the corporate world of the 1980's. At the same time, that's part of the movie's charm. Even though ten years has made the costumes, hair, and production design irritating, the charm and intelligence of Mike Nichols' Cinderella story still shine through. As does the quality of the performances, which are also revealing a decade later. Harrison Ford makes a perfectly likable romantic lead while Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey offer amusingly smarmy comic performances. But the actresses walk away with the movie. Joan Cusack is hilarious in a scene-stealing turn as a Staten Island secretary, and Sigourney Weaver is great as a shrewd and conniving career woman. The brilliance of Weaver's performance is how slyly and genuinely she plays her villianous character, often decieving the audience as she decieves the characters in the movie. And finally there is Melanie Griffith who gave a star-is-born performance as the big-haired secretary who falls in love with Ford's merger specialist and smartly climbs her way up the corporate ladder after Weaver stabs her in the back. Griffith earned an Oscar nod for this performance (as did Cusack and Weaver for theirs) and it's a testament to how funny, sexy, and wonderful she is in the part that even after numerous flops and odd career moves, she's still a well-known movie star ten years later (For an opposite side at this scenario look at Jennifer Beals in Flashdance or Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing, both of whom became big stars and then fell off the face of the earth). Nichols' direction is smart, as is Kevin Wade's clever screenplay, and the light and funny romantic comedy leads up to a surprisingly suspenseful and enormously satisfying climax. All-in-all, a satisfying and amusing entertainment.

Highly entertaining

[Koceny · 7/10 · 9 May 2021]

80's at its peak. 80's at it's best. 80's in America. Big hair, big clothes, big dreams. Casting and directing great. Plot with a twist. Fun and watchable like it is expected from the 80's movie.

The best come-uppance story ever!

[budmassey · 10/10 · 14 April 2001]

You know you've had a boss like this. Someone who stole your ideas, used you to advance their career, and did everything to keep you from getting the credit you deserve. I think of him every time I watch this movie, and although he got his come-uppance, as such people usually do, this one is still more satisfying.

Griffith is a little annoying as the giggly secretary with ambition, but it works. Weaver is the greatest comedic villain since Cruella DeVil. You know she's going to fall, and she does in more ways than one. While she's mending broken bones from a ski trip, her secretary finds a memo capitalizing on her idea the boss had pooh-poohed as a "secretary's notion."

In her boss's absence, Tess (Griffith) uses her boss's name, her office, her home, even her clothes, to break into the rarefied New York mergers and acquisitions world. She even falls for the boss's boyfriend.

Alas, the boss is a fast healer and comes home early. She finds an entry in her secretary's day planner, and it hits the fan.

It's hard to believe this gem was written by the same writer who inflicted Meet Joe Black on us, but we can forgive him. Harrison Ford is at the top of his game as the boyfriend, but Joan Cusack almost walks away with this one, as usual. Joan is the best comedic supporting actress around.

Weaver has one of the the greatest one-liners of all time. When asked if she's sure her boyfriend will propose, she says "We're in the same city now. I've indicated I'm receptive to an offer. I've cleared the month of June. And I am, after all, me."

The go-go 80's may be long gone, along with the power suits, the BIG hair, the Perrier, and the bull market, but this hilarious and heartwarming comedy still works without relying on nostalgia or sentiment!

fun 80s fashion in good 80s rom-com

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 12 December 2013]

Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) is a smart, plucky, investment worker. She tries to climb the corporate ladder, but she's constantly held back by the sexist environment, and her night school college degree. When she is assigned to be Katharine Parker (Sigourney Weaver)'s secretary, she hoped that things would finally change. She shares a business idea with Katharine. When she finds that Katharine is claiming the idea for herself, Tess takes matters into her own hands.

The subject matter, the style, and the humor is pure 80's. The hair is insane. And there is no accounting for the fashion. It is jaw dropping and unintentionally funny.

As for the story, it's a fairly good happy rom-com from veteran director Mike Nichols. This is possibly Melanie Griffith's best work. She has just enough pluckiness and is a complete sweetheart. Sigourney Weaver is showing her comedic chops. And Harrison Ford is actually a great rom-com leading man.

Wonderful, fun, feel good comeuppance tale

[roghache · 8/10 · 2 April 2006]

This is a fabulous movie. Maybe not rocket science, but clever enough! It has an engaging plot, an extremely empathetic heroine, a villainous boss, a cheatin' boyfriend, and a handsome new love interest just stepping into the picture. Get your popcorn ready for the comeuppance story of a lifetime.

The tale revolves around a smart secretary named Tess McGill, who wants to get ahead in the Big Apple but is beaten down by her nasty boss, Katherine, who steals her ideas and passes them off as her own. Fortune smiles on Tess when Katherine breaks her leg during a skiing holiday and Tess is able to 'take charge'...that is, until her boss, who recovers all too quickly, returns. Of course there is also a romance brewing here in the form of a handsome investment banker named Jack Trainer, who just happens to be her boss's boyfriend.

Harrison Ford is his typical dashing, magnetic self in the role of Jack Trainer, but it is the two ladies that make this movie. Signourey Weaver is absolutely villainous as an employee's 'worst nightmare' boss, a lady (no, not a lady) high up the corporate ladder, but lacking any semblance of integrity or kindness toward anyone below her in that ladder. You will be itching to see this nasty snob get her comeuppance.

Above all, Melanie Griffith is brilliant in the role of Tess, every viewer's favorite downtrodden secretary. She's a woman with all the intelligence and skills needed to succeed in the corporate world, but is ill used by those above her who put her down. Many employees out there will identify with Tess, having at some point in their lives been ill treated by a boss, whether male or female, with at least shades of Katherine. Furthermore, Tess will surely gain viewer sympathy regarding her unfortunate experiences with her sleazy live in lover, Mick.

The scene featuring the Staten Island ferry is beautifully done, accompanied as it is by Carly Simon's wonderful Oscar winning song, 'Let the River Run'. What an amazing voice! This is really a fantastic, fun movie. You can't help but love it.

A Well-Made Film...

[namashi_1 · 7/10 · 19 October 2011]

'Working Girl, directed by legendary Film-Maker Mike Nichols, is A Well-Made Film, that shapes up pretty well. The performances, also, work big time!

'Working Girl' Synopsis: When a secretary's idea is stolen by her boss, she seizes an opportunity to steal it back by pretending she has her boss's job.

Kevin Wade's Screenplay is well-done & tender. Also, the diversity between the characters is interesting. Mike Nichols Directs this box office hit with ease. Cinematography is perfect. Editing & Art Design, are worth a mention.

Performance-Wise: Sigourney Weaver delivers a legendary performance in all respects. Melanie Griffith is in terrific form. Harrison Ford is nicely restrained. Joan Cusack is first-rate. Alec Baldwin is impressive. Kevin Spacey appears in a tiny cameo. Others lend good support.

On the whole, 'Working Girl' succeeds by becoming a memorable cine-going experience. Thumbs Up!

hasn't aged well...

[MarieGabrielle · 5/10 · 10 September 2006]

Unfortunately, some films do not transcend the times, and still teach us something new or different. Any film that is a drama/social commentary should be something helpful for the audience, or if it is a romantic comedy, should have novel actors, or at least can give us a laugh which is unexpected.

I can remember when this film came out, and a colleague asked me if I had seen it, saying it accurately depicts women in the workplace. (Yawn) More generalizations.

Melanie Griffith was (at that time) too much the stereotypical dumb blonde, Harrison Ford, the eligible CEO (as always), Sigourney Weaver the educated taskmaster boss. Actually the stereotypes in this film are so rampant and predictable, it may take too long to delineate.

"Wall Street" is a much better film which at least has an interesting story from this era. "Working Girl" tries too hard to be funny, and to make light of a situation (job turnover) which today is commonplace, the premise is too far-fetched, the reality is the Griffith character would have moved on to several other jobs, as everyone does. No one would tolerate a boss like Weaver today. This film reminds me of "The Secret of My Success" (Michael J. Fox) and "Baby Boom" (Diane Keaton), funny at the time, but do we really want to reminisce about it?. No.

Working Girl

[Coxer99 · 22 April 1999]

Wonderful romance-comedy in the tradition of Capra and Sturges with Griffith perfectly cast as a woman posing as a business mogul to get ahead in the corporate world and spite bitchy boss Weaver, who is simply divine. Ford is especially precious in a rare romantic-comedy as Griffith's partner in business and love interest. The story is creative and witty. Mike Nichols' direction is sharp and in the highest form. The fine supporting cast also features Cusack and the always durable Phillip Bosco. Carly Simon's wonderful song won an Oscar.

"Working Girl" still works.

[=G= · 7/10 · 3 February 2002]

"Working Girl" sticks Griffith in the title role as a soft-spoken, self-doubting but determined secretary trying to keep her principles in tact while determined to get ahead in both romance and finance. Director Nichols crafts a charming and sweetly sentimental Yuppie-era girl-makes-good tale with good old school Hollywood style in this much lauded film which is a break-through for Griffith with early peeks at Kevin Spacy, Oliver Platt, and Ricki Lake and a poignant look at the Manhattan skyline behind rolling credits. A fun blast from the past on the broadcast circuit.

katharine's office

[csimpkins53 · 7/10 · 17 June 2015]

If Katherine and Jack are so close to being married why does Jack not know that Tess is in Katherine's office? I would think that if a couple is that close to being married they would be quite familiar with each others offices. Anyway, I do like this movie. I've probably seen it 7 or eight times. I'm a heterosexual male, I love women and consider myself to be a gentleman and I feel so sorry for Tess in the horrible way that nearly everyone treats her! The character of Tess is that of a good woman and it hurts me to see a good woman mistreated. With the exception of Jack and her fellow secretaries almost everyone treats her like dirt! Including her sleazy "boyfriend" played by Alec Baldwin, her low as pond scum male co-workers not to mention the quintessential bitch Katherine! All of this, of course eventually results in a great "feel good" ending which causes me to cheer for Tess's triumph!

Entertaining

[grantss · 7/10 · 9 April 2016]

Entertaining comedy-drama.

Ending is a bit Hollywoodish but the setup and plot development are good. Also has a bit of female-corporate-empowerment message, though not a very powerful one.

Solid performance from Melanie Griffith in the lead role. Signourney Weaver, especially, and Harrison Ford outperform Griffith though. Decent support performances from Joan Cusack and Alec Baldwin.

Interesting to note that the cast includes Kevin Spacey, Olympia Dukakis and Oliver Platt in minor roles and David Duchovny in a very minor, fleeting, role.

Bright, feel-good comedy...George Cukor - move over!

[niborskaya · 10/10 · 10 September 2007]

It's up there with any of screwball comedies of the 30s... Carole Lombard, Jean Arthur, Margaret Sullivan. a modern classic...and that's not hyperbole!

I've been watching this movie every now and again for almost 20 years (ye gads!), and it's always entertaining. Tonight, I noticed how effective and subtle an actress Melanie Griffith can be when she's directed well. She's a real jewel in this film. Sweet, sexy, smart with a "brain for business and a bod for sin". Mike Nichols clearly loved filming her. Her expressions are priceless. Watch for the wonderful scene when Harrison Ford and she are walking to the elevator and he's asking her out. That face of hers as the elevator doors close is just heavenly. That's Mike Nichols craft/artistry.

Sigourney Weaver also does a masterful job as a two-faced shark business woman. What's so wonderful about her character, the writing, is that Katherine doesn't have a conscience. She's crafty and slick and manipulative, but she's not out to hurt anyone, just put herself first. It's too bad if anyone get's in her way. She's not nasty, but there is no question that she is the most important person in the universe. It's interesting, too, how her duplicity is reflected in her wardrobe. Most of the professional women in the movie are dressed in ultra-conservative boxy business attire, but Katherine/Sigourney dresses sophisticatedly and elegantly. She knows how to play both sides, the professional yet still sexy professional. She's so powerful in herself that she doesn't feel like she has to dress like a man just because she's in a male- dominated career (mergers/acquisitions). yes, she's a monster/ogre, but as she states, "This is BUSINESS".

Harrison Ford is his usual witty, slightly befuddled nice guy. He's the James Stewart of the baby boomer generation.

Joan Cusack is a phenomenon with her iridescent eye-shadow and Bozo hairdo. I think has the funniest line in the movie-a warning to Tess: "You know, sometimes I sing and dance around the apartment in my underwear. Doesn't make me Madonna....never will". that's rich.

Look for Ricki Lake at the wedding.

I put this movie in the same category as Moonstruck, Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine. Transformation movies. I suppose you could call them modern day Cinderella Stories, but it's more about the women saving themselves as opposed to waiting for Prince Charming.

It's a pleasure to see this movie. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

A decent romantic 80s styled movie.

[nataliabatsko · 7/10 · 3 April 2022]

This is a pretty old movie that my mom recommended me to watch. Mostly because both of us enjoy rom-coms. Although I was skeptic about watching it, I decided to give it a try.

The movie is set in New York city, to be more specific, lower Manhattan. Our main character Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) is an ambitious Secretary who comes up with a great idea of promoting Trask industries through the radio instead of TV. And her boss Katharine Parker (Sigourney Weaver) disagrees about the idea, since she doesn't believe that it will work. Later on, Katharine decided to spend her vacation at the winter resort, but sadly breaks her leg by falling of a cliff, thus letting Tess taking her place at work. Soon after finding out some not so good news about her boyfriend and plan, she decided to go to the bar where she meets Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford), who actually appreciates her scheme. And both slowly fall in love with each other.

I'm just letting you know that the movie itself is pretty dated, since it's style is just screaming 80s because of the clothing and hairstyling. It's not necessary a bad thing, but it can be distracting for the younger generation. But it's still good as it is. First of all, it's female protagonist Tess Mcgill is an independent and smart woman. She really wants her plan to work out successfully and she'll do anything to achieve it. I think that she's a great example of an ambitious character, you can really appreciate her personality and believe that she'll succeed! As for her actress Melanie Griffith, she honestly reminded me of Brittany Murphy because of her soft voice and blond hair. And since I liked the latter in Just married and Uptown girls, so Melanie was as good as Brittany in my opinion. Although we don't see her boss Katharine that often, she still plays an important part in the end. But I won't tell you how due to spoilers. Moving onto our male protagonist Jack, he appears as both a colleague and later a love interest to Tess. He's a pretty interesting character that tries to help Tess since their awkward meeting at the bar. The romance aspect was handled well, especially with it's plot twist in the end. Despite the main characters being well done, the minor ones needed more work. Sure, there was Cyn that helped Tess with picking up clothes for the meeting that was somewhat memorable. But the rest were super forgettable, down to the point where I don't remember their names. Which isn't good. The plot itself is ok, but the romance aspect makes the story move forward where Tess and Jack move from just colleagues to lovers with each meeting in the bar, wedding party of Oren Trusk's daughter, Katharine's house and later on Truck industries.

It's not exactly a funny movie, but there were some moments that made me smile, like when the main characters met each other for the first time at the bar. It was pretty silly when Jack kept explaining that he just wanted to meet Tess like a normal human being or when Cyn was the Secretary and asked whether the workers wanted coffee tea or her. And especially when one of the male employees wanted to marry the new boss McGill and when she said maybe, he just threw a tantrum outside of the party house. So, it gets some points for some moments.

Not the best movie I've seen, but not a bad one to spend time with your friends or by yourself. It's not really for teens, since most of them would find it boring, but older audience will appreciate it's ideas, main characters, good acting and nice clothing designs. I thought it was alright, but the acting made this movie better and more interesting for me to watch. Everyone did a great job with each character and that makes the cast believable, thus making the plot feel more realistic and down to earth. Not a must watch, but if you're tired of endless scifi action or horror films and something closer to an everyday life of people, then this movie is just for you.

Coffee, Tea, Me?

[Boyo-2 · 9/10 · 10 July 2000]

With a cast that includes Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Alec Baldwin, Oliver Platt and Kevin Spacey, its a minor miracle Joan Cusack got any attention at all. But she did get attention, and a well-deserved Oscar nomination. She is completely hysterical and is one of the best reasons to see this fairy tale set against the big bad world of Wall Street. Her best scene is when she masquerades as Melanie's secretary and makes an offer to Harrison "Coffee, Tea, Me"?

Working movie (rental)

[leplatypus · 7/10 · 19 December 2014]

This is a rather an original American movie because on two points: first, the main character is indeed down the ladder for one time. Sure America still doesn't seem to have factory workers but at least we escape the successful and wealthy characters that Hollywood keeps feeding us. More accurately, we have this kind here with Sigourney but this time, this upper class is seen for what it's really: a bitchy one! The second originality is that the hero isn't male but a woman! And what's funny is that woman does what she want from our Indy! I'm not really a fan of miss Griffith but here she was OK and as it's a 80s movies where fashion was inspired, diverse and not assimilated with brands, it's very fresh. In addition, Joan Cusak is this perfect and eternal eccentric friend, identical to her « shameless » character 3 decades before. Harrison is his usual self in other words a soft- spoken buddy but full of kindness and rightness at close hands. In conclusion, it's a really good movie because it has a real moving story and the perfect cast to tell it (i'm not speaking about the one that wears Sigourney :-)

One of my favorite comedies is sweet and funny.

[obi-3 · 10/10 · 7 November 1999]

How can you go wrong with this delightful comedy? Besides having a great cast headed by Melanie Griffith, there's Harrison Ford (in one of the rare romantic comedies that suits his talents), Sigourney Weaver and wonderful Joan Cusack. And Olympia Dukakis, Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey are in it too (don't blink)! A great musical score and Oscar winning song by Carly Simon, all directed by Mike Nichols, I give this two thumbs up, and a 10!

Working Girl

[jboothmillard · 7/10 · 25 May 2008]

From Oscar and Golden Globe nominated director Mike Nichols (The Graduate, The Birdcage, Closer), this is quite an interesting comedy film looking at how feminism can affect the work place. Basically Tess McGill (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Melanie Griffith) becomes a secretary/personal assistant for Katharine Parker (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Sigourney Weaver), but when Katharine breaks her leg while on a work trip/vacation (whichever) Tess takes over her business. While doing this she is bossed about quite a lot by Weaver (on the phone, and eventually when she gets back), and she meets and falls for broker Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford). In the process of having this relationship, Tess climbs the corporate ladder to success, and in the end, Katharine is seen as the bitch she is by her superior, and Tess gets a proper job with her own secretary and office. Also starring Alec Baldwin as Mick Dugan, Oscar nominated Joan Cusack as Cyn, Philip Bosco as Oren Trask, Nora Dunn as Ginny, Funny Bones' Oliver Platt as Lutz, James Lally as Turkel, young Kevin Spacey as Bob Speck, Robert Easton as Armbrister, Olympia Dukakis as Personnel Director, Amy Aquino as Alice Baxter, Jeffrey Nordling as Tim Rourke, Elizabeth Whitcraft as Doreen DiMucci, Zach Grenier as Jim, Lee Dalton as John Romano, Barbara Garrick as Phyllis Trask, Madolin B. Archer as Barbara Trask and David Duchovny as Tess's Birthday Party Friend. It didn't make me laugh that much in many places, and there were a few moments where I lost track of what was going on, but the performances are good, and you do root for Griffith's character. It won the nominated the Oscar for Best Picture, it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Original Film Score for singer Carly Simon, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, Best Original Song (together with "Two Hearts" from Buster (1988)), and it was nominated for Best Screenplay. Carly Simon's Oscar winning "Let The River Run" was number 91 on 100 Years, 100 Songs, the film was number 91 on 100 Years, 100 Passions, and it was number 87 on 100 Years, 100 Cheers. Very good!

Punch The Clock

[jldmp1 · 3/10 · 16 May 2006]

This is "Nine To Five" all over again, just without the fun.

The predecessor contains 'the movie within the movie', i.e., each bit about how the seething secretary envisions a little Roman justice inflicted on the boorish boss.

But this movie has no brains in its visual narrative...it's reduced to a collection of characters bouncing off of each other in trajectories guided by stereotypes. The motif is class warfare, muddled with an isosceles love triangle.

Griffith has to be the most physically unappealing actress to be given the star treatment. The attraction to her (by any movie audience) is quite baffling.

If you must watch, watch it for Cusack who at least goes for broke with the character excess.