
Ladies First is an enjoyable and easy-to-watch comedy that takes a simple idea and has a lot of fun with it.
Starring Sasha Baron Cohen, the film shines a spotlight on the inequalities that still exist between men and women in the workplace. It does this with humour rather than a sledgehammer, which makes the message easier to digest while still giving you something to think about.
One of my favourite parts was spotting all the familiar brands that had been cleverly flipped for this alternate world. Burger Queen, Queens Cross Station, Harriet Potter and Vincent Westwood all raised a smile. It's a small detail, but it helps bring the whole concept to life.
The film also reminded me of the book The Power. While the stories are very different, both explore what happens when the balance of power shifts and society has to adjust.
The cast is strong throughout. Rosamund Pike and Charles Dance are excellent, which will surprise absolutely nobody. Fiona Shaw is also brilliant, and I seem incapable of seeing her on screen without immediately thinking, "this is going to be good."
While I enjoyed the film, it never quite reaches the heights of the best comedies or social satires. It has plenty of good ideas and some funny moments.
Still, for a Netflix film, it's a solid evening's entertainment. Sometimes you don't need a masterpiece. Sometimes you just want to switch your brain into cruise control for a couple of hours and enjoy the ride.
3/5

