Review: Working Girl (1988)

            By today’s standards, the late-‘80s box-office romantic comedy Working Girl would be considered a feel-good chick flick intended for a summer release much like The Devil Wears Prada or The Proposal yet somehow it became a critically-acclaimed film released during Oscar season. In fact, it was nominated for six Oscars!

            Released during a time when women were entering the world of business in full force, Working Girl dealt with the sexual politics of commerce and what it takes to achieve success as a woman in a male-dominated field. A young Melanie Griffith plays the ambitious Tess McGill whose frustration over her stagnant position as a secretary forces her to take matters into her own hands and masquerade as a high-powered business woman in order to enhance her chances of advancing her career. Griffith’s girlish way of speaking is endearing and her exuberance in the role causes the audience to fall in love with her. We root for her and she truly gives it her all in this performance. She is to be commended especially in her ability to switch between dialects and accents. Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford are admirable as Griffith’s love interests. Baldwin plays the role of the despicable boyfriend remarkably well and it’s not hard to become enamoured with Ford’s dashing good looks. Joan Cusack, notably nominated for an Oscar for her supporting role, steals each and every scene she’s in. She plays the garishly dressed best friend to Griffith’s Tess and she is a total riot. Cusack is rough around the edges and gives it 120% as a loud mouth. The film’s cast is rounded out with its pseudo-villain Katharine Parker as portrayed by Sigourney Weaver. It’s hard to take Weaver seriously in the role. She’s a parody of a female executive and comes across rather shallowly. Truthfully, Katharine would have been played more effectively by Meryl Streep (re: Miranda Priestley). Yes, she generates a few laughs but lacks the authenticity her cast mates have. It's an abnormal miss in Weaver's otherwise near-perfect filmography which included stellar performances in Gorillas in the Mist, Copycat and Alien (and its sequels).

            Working Girl is an enjoyable romp sure to be a riot for most. It features the obligatory big hair and massive shoulder pads expected of the ‘80s but there’s a message at the heart of the film and it makes a statement. In fact, Working Girl couldn’t be more relevant today. In the 20-plus years since the film came out, women have seemingly made very little progress in the business world and it unfortunately reflects the fact that many of us are stuck at the bottom of the career ladder because those at the top are still so stuck in their ways (or are dastardly vicious self-important Katharine Parkers).

Grade: B