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HBO Guide Challenge numero tres: Nueve a Cinco. "Nine to Five" (1980) Jan 1st 1982, 10:00 AM

6.4 on IMDB? Are you kidding? Nine to Five is brilliant, clever, hilarious, and has aged quite well. Perhaps I am blinded by the fact that I saw this film as a child and am letting nostalgia get in the way of objective judgement, comedy is so difficult to gauge given one's own cultural experience I suppose. But, I just find 6.4 a tad bit low. This is a true classic gem.

First the cast. Wonderful ensemble cast starring Dabney Coleman (in perhaps his greatest role, certainly his most memorable - found myself wondering what the hell ever happened to this guy, so synonymous with the 80's), Jane Fonda (spot-on portrayal of the mousey Judy, Dolly Parton (fantastic given she isn't an actress in her daytime career), and finally, Lily Tomlin as Violet (anything but a dainty flower, she is the highlight of the film by far). Great chemistry amongst the girls; very natural and comfortable and organically funny. Hart is quintessential douche boss prototype: perfect.

The story is best told in the HBO guide on page 13:
Three office workers hatch an outrageous plot against their sexist boss in this very funny satire. Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and singer Dolly Parton, making her film debut, play the wild trio. Parton sings the smashing title song. Adult humor, profanity. (PG-1:50)
The plot is thick with clever twists and turns (nothing too intellectual here so don't get over-excited), and there are some truly ingenious vignettes during the classic 'pot smoking scene' where the three women fantasize about the much maligned boss's demise; of particular note, the Tomlin scene as dark vindictive Snow White is memorable.

The entire film is also redolent with the well-known track "Nine to Five" by Parton; a great tune whether you want to admit it publicly or otherwise. The film's composer has basically extended the track in instrumental form, and weaved it throughout the production very effectively.

Great, classic film. 3 out of 4 stars. I'm realizing that my bar is naturally higher for comedy; I tend to think of only epic, poignant, knocked on the floor heavy movies as true candidates for 4 stars. Is this a problem with my thinking? I love the humorous and comic...no bigger fan exists BUT...the tragic and/or life-changing seems 'bigger'? What of it? Something to keep in mind. 3 out of 4 for a comedy (or other 'light' genres) may be more comparable to a perfect score in my own grading system. I will have to examine this further (or father if you happen to be priest hee hee).

Some footnotes.

Dabney Coleman. Just where in the world DID he go? I love this guy. He is all over the 80's like dirt on a...dirty article of clothing or something. Then it just occurred to me. I was watching Boardwalk Empire and noticed him in the credits, and had to backtrack in order to find him. Playing an old gentleman sans mustache, it was unmistakably him and yet, somehow, stripped of that bit of facial growth, not quite the same. Amazing how critical facial hair can be to characteristic look of some of us. Or perhaps all of us but that we tend to shave periodically, keeping others on their toes and not nailing down the look so much. I digress upon a digression. He is still out there, doing work, and that is good to know...though he did kinda disappear for a bit, no?

And finally, Lily Tomlin. Still active. Played the Calvin in Northampton fairly recently, and I'm assuming she still has her stuff together. Brilliant woman and somewhat forgotten, but huge for a period during the late 70's and early 80's. I was reminded of just how funny she is/was while watching this movie. Good times.


Here is a group of promos from way-late 1981, with a 9 to 5 promo somewhere in amongst all the goodness. Enjoy (or do what I'm doing and thoroughly enjoy staring at that still...look at 'dem abs eh?).

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