Netflix’s new comedy “Ladies First,” starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike, is drawing broadly negative reactions from critics after its release on streaming. The film is described as a gender-flipping, “battle of the sexes” premise in which Cohen plays a chauvinistic CEO who wakes up in a parallel world dominated by women. Reviewers say the movie leans heavily on dated comedic tropes and role-reversal jokes, with some critics arguing that the material feels old even by the time period it references. Across outlets, critics focus on what they see as weak or uneven humor and questionable handling of gender politics. Multiple reviews cite concerns that the film’s jokes can come across as offensive or regressive, and that it does not land satire as effectively as it intends. Several sources also note that the film’s cast—described as “all-star” and including performers such as Fiona Shaw, Charles Dance, and Emily Mortimer—does not fully overcome the limitations of the script. Overall, coverage portrays “Ladies First” as a heavily promoted but poorly received comedy that fails to generate consistent laughs.
Critics react to Netflix’s ‘Ladies First,’ starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike
Netflix’s new comedy “Ladies First,” starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike, is drawing broadly negative reactions from critics after its release on streaming. The film is described as a gender-...
- Netflix releases the comedy film “Ladies First,” starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike.
- The plot centers on a chauvinistic CEO who wakes up in a parallel world where women hold power.
- Critics across outlets largely give the film negative reviews, citing weak jokes and uneven comedy.
- Some reviewers criticize the film’s approach to gender politics as offensive, regressive, or outdated.
- Several reviews say the high-profile British cast does not compensate for the material’s shortcomings.
Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike in Ladies FirstWhen the trailer for the new Netflix comedy film Ladies First dropped, it quickly raised eyebrows, with some critics going as far as calling it “the worst movie trailer” the had “ever seen”.And let’s just say the response isn’t any better now that the film has landed on streaming services, with a smattering of one- and two-star reviews.Ladies First stars Sacha Baron Cohen as a chauvinistic CEO whose life is upended when he wakes up in a parallel world dominated by women.Despite an all-star cast which includes Rosamund Pike, Fiona Shaw, Charles Dance and Emily Mortimer, the film is getting negative reviews across the board.Critics are calling out the film’s subpar jokes, borderline-offensive gender politics and misuse of its talented British cast.Here is what people are saying about Ladies First…The Guardian (1/5)“In its attempt to become a one-stop shop for just about every form of nostalgia possible, Netflix has now decided to revive the dreadful British comedy of the 2000s.The all-deciding algorithm has somehow deemed it necessary for a return to that cursed era with the release of Ladies First, a broad and chintzy new comedy that would have felt old hat even back then.“It’s an excruciatingly unfunny high-concept thought experiment, imagining a world with flipped gender politics, that’s far too happy with itself and what it’s allegedly achieving to be passed off as just some charming throwback.”The Times (2/5)“This a film that attempts to wring side-splitting laughter from the wacky, dystopian sight of, ho-ho, women taxi drivers, women paramedics and women changing tyres. Plus, equally hilarious are the scenes featuring, snicker snicker, men cooking, men hugging and men being interested in their children. Finger off the pulse? Just a bit.”Critics definitely aren't laughing at Sacha Baron Cohen's new comedyVariety“A dated battle-of-the-sexes comedy [...] at a time when laws change daily to restrict women’s bodily autonomy, protect men from accountability and reinstate antiquated values that benefit a few at the expense of the many, sexual politics can feel more regressive than ever.“But as uneven a playing field as women may face against men in their lives, relationships and careers, Ladies First is a movie that seems like it’s made less for this moment than one a few generations ago.”The Hollywood Reporter“This comic tale of an arrogant, sexist male executive who gets his comeuppance when he hits his head and wakes up to find himself in a world dominated by women hits every satirical note you’d expect but provides more knowing chuckles than genuine laughs. “An almost ridiculously overqualified cast of notable British thespians does their best to elevate the material of this Netflix comedy directed by Thea Sharrock but it’s heavy lifting.”The New York Times“The easy feminism of winks and role reversals quickly wears thin. Most of the movie takes place in Damien’s head after all, and much of its lessons are about his growth. Why does that sound so familiar?”We're not sure what's happening in this scene from Ladies First and we're not sure we want to knowThe Financial Times (2/5)“Sacha Baron Cohen is knocked unconscious early in Netflix comedy Ladies First, a film that only sometimes makes you wish the same for yourself.”Wall Street Journal“Men and women both will find a number of alarming concepts in the gender-flipping comedy Ladies First not the least of which will be the idea of Sacha Baron Cohen as a romantic lead. “He’s a terrific actor. Whether he has the animal magnetism to play opposite Rosamund Pike (who does?) strains credulity. But so does most of the movie.”Ladies First is now streaming on Netflix.MORE FILM NEWS:Brad Pitt And Quentin Tarantino Had A Heated Stand-Off On Set, Co-Star ClaimsLupita Nyong'o Addresses Racist Backlash Over Her Casting In The OdysseyFormer James Bond Star Rosamund Pike Reacts To Co-Star Jacob Elordi 007 Rumours
3 months agoA misogynist is made to learn the error of his ways in this painfully dated and embarrassingly star-packed sexism comedyIn its attempt to become a one-stop shop for just about every form of nostalgia possible, Netflix has now decided to revive the dreadful British comedy of the 2000s. Films such as Sex Lives of the Potato Men, Three and Out, Fat Slags and Lesbian Vampire Killers saw creatives boldly stand up to Hollywood and declare that whatever they could do, the UK film industry could do it 10 times worse.The all-deciding algorithm has somehow deemed it necessary for a return to that cursed era with the release of Ladies First, a broad and chintzy new comedy that would have felt old hat even back then. It’s an excruciatingly unfunny high-concept thought experiment, imagining a world with flipped gender politics, that’s far too happy with itself and what it’s allegedly achieving to be passed off as just some charming throwback. Like the other misfires it recalls, it’s also a criminal waste of talent, a murderer’s row of actors who hopefully got paid handsomely for the embarrassment of this whiffing up their IMDb pages. Continue reading...
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