UMVA has learned that a new Netflix movie, Ladies First, starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike, has shot up the charts despite being universally panned by critics.
The gender-swapped satire follows douchebag businessman Damien Sachs, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, who is plunged into a world ruled by a matriarchy, where he gets a taste of his own medicine under the thumb of his female boss, Alex, played by Rosamund Pike.
In this topsy-turvy world, every woman's rights issue, from medical misogyny to workplace harassment, becomes a burden men must shoulder - a much-needed wake-up call for Damien. The film's synopsis promises an arrogant but charismatic ladies' man finding his life of money, power, and casual flings upended when he wakes up in a parallel world dominated by women.
Despite its questionable take on feminism, the movie has secured the number two slot on Netflix since its release on May 22. Critics have savaged the film, with a scathing 15% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Guardian delivered a one-star review, calling it 'incredibly, tiresomely un-fun and, by the end, laughably earnest.' The Financial Times was slightly more generous, but still unimpressed, saying Sacha Baron Cohen is knocked unconscious early in the Netflix comedy, a film that only sometimes makes you wish the same for yourself.
Fan reviews have been mixed, with some viewers slamming the film as 'archaic and predictable' and 'a huge misfire and horribly embarrassing for a strong, usually dependable cast.' Others, however, have found it 'light-hearted and fun' and praised its sharp, self-aware comedy.
Rosamund Pike discussed her approach to playing the female equivalent of an insufferable misogynist, saying it's all about flipping the script on typical movie tropes. She noted that the film's humor comes from turning the tables on traditional male behaviors and making men face the consequences.
Ladies First is now streaming on Netflix, leaving viewers to decide for themselves whether this satire hits the mark or falls flat.
