X
- 1980
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 49 m
- 1980
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 49 m
Summary In Nine to Five, three female employees of a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot find a way to turn the tables on him.
Directed By: Colin Higgins
Written By: Patricia Resnick, Colin Higgins
- 1980
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 49 m
- 1980
- PG
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 1 h 49 m
9 to 5
58
7.1
Where to Watch
Summary In Nine to Five, three female employees of a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot find a way to turn the tables on him.
Directed By: Colin Higgins
Written By: Patricia Resnick, Colin Higgins
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 12 Critic Reviews
58
50% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
42% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
8% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 12 Critic Reviews
58
50% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
42% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
8% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
The gamble of casting Misses Tomlin and Fonda in what would seem to be the wrong roles (Violet is the strong, efficient, hard-edged secretary; Judy the frilly, "feminine," inexperienced employee) pays off handsomely, especially with Miss Tomlin. When she is handed a memo by a senior secretary and smilingly snarls, "Thanks, Roz, I know just where to stick it," her line reading is worth the price of admission. The pneumatic Miss Parton sings the theme song with greater confidence than she brings to her acting: she is a sweet little thing, but she's no thespian. [20 Dec 1980]
Nine to Five is a good-hearted, simple-minded comedy that will win a place in film history, I suspect, primarily because it contains the movie debut of Dolly Parton. She is, on the basis of this one film, a natural-born movie star, a performer who holds our attention so easily that it's hard to believe it's her first film.
The movie is surprisingly smart about the politics of the glass ceiling, which keeps Tomlin in a pink-collar supervisor position while every man she trains gets promoted past her. The way Coleman asserts his masculinity with phrases like "cut the balls off the competition," and the way our heroic trio works together to sculpt a worker's paradise—complete with flex-time and day-care facilities—serves as an effective summary of the era's hot-button issues.
Not a fiasco, a disaster or a scandal. But not as funny as it should have been, and not the trenchant office satire one was led to expect. As a comedy built on the juicy soil of revenge, "9 to 5" falls between two poles. It's not wild or dark enough to qualify as a truly disturbing farce and it's too fanciful and silly to succeed as realistic satire. Politically and esthetically, it's harmless--a mildly amusing romp that tends to get swallowed up by its own overly intricate plot. [22 Dec 1980, p.72]
Lots of laughs, little sense, and pure fantasy. Produced by Fonda's company, NINE TO FIVE is an amusing way to spend 110 minutes, but hardly memorable.
For all the trouble taken, Nine to Five comes out as a very ordinary situation comedy about three bubble heads seeking revenge on a boss who is a big old meanie. The justice of the cause, the abilities of the actresses, the intrinsic interest of the scene -- these are all lost in the frantic efforts to cram in satire, social commentary, slapstick and sexual oppression. There is such a thing as working too hard. [19 Dec 1980, p.19]
The new facetious depressant from Colin Higgins -- the screenwriter and now director who has parlayed "Harold and Maude," "The Silver Streak" and "Foul Play" into one of the more baffling winning streaks on record -- runs a merely weak comic premise into the ground with coarse, laborious execution. [19 Dec 1980, p.E1]
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 18 User Ratings
7.1
78% Positive
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
11% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
11% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 18 User Ratings
7.1
78% Positive
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
11% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
11% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
Production Company
IPC Films,
Twentieth Century Fox
Release Date Dec 19, 1980
Duration 1 h 49 m
Rating PG
Genres
Tagline Getting even is a full-time job.
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 3 Nominations
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
Grammy Awards
• 2 Wins & 4 Nominations
