Crash Through That Glass Ceiling at the Paramount [Working Girl, 9 to 5 Double Feature]

Paramount Summer Film Series: 9 to 5, Working Girl Double Feature
Tuesday, July 28th (9 to 5 at 7pm, Working Girl at 9:15pm) and Wednesday, July 29th (Working Girl at 7pm, 9 to 5 at 9:20)
Paramount Theater (713 Congress Avenue)
$8 at box office/$7 online,
[info] | [tickets]

Look out sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigots! Tonight and tomorrow night the ladies of the 80s are climbing the corporate ladder and aren't afraid to kick you down a rung if you don't recognize their keen intellect and undeniable business acumen, no matter if you are one of their kind or not. In a stroke of pure brilliance The Paramount has programmed a double feature that will give any other activity tonight or tomorrow night a real run for its ~~money~~ shoulder pads, pairing the Dolly Parton/Lily Tomlin/Jane Fonda triple threat of 9 to 5 with the bony-assed-boss berating, Aqua Net-enhanced prowess of Melanie Griffith in Working Girl.

All joking aside, 9 to 5, despite it's wacky turn halfway through the second act, is a surprising piece of filmmaking for something that came out in the dawn of the Reagan years. It was the top grossing film of 1980, and the fact that a female buddy film, centered around corporate office antics, beat out Superman II at the box office is a testament to the ability of the subject matter and the actors portraying it to connect with a broad—no pun intended—audience (not that we place too great a value on box office returns—we're looking at you Transformers 2). People like 9 to 5 because they recognize these characters: the skilled and deserving subordinate who is passed over for a promotion that she deserved, the pretty receptionist who people assume is a hussy due to the size of her chest, and the slightly bumbling new girl, who is just trying to find her sea legs after her husband left her for a younger woman, not to mention the misogynistic boss who would just as soon grab your ass as look at you. Audiences also like it because it is frickin' hysterical (Dabney Coleman deserves some sort of lifetime achievement award in our opinion).

oh, that hair

On the other end of the decade came Working Girl, a classic story about a ~~small town~~ Jersey girl with big city dreams. Tess McGill (Griffith) is just trying to get ahead in the world, but at every turn she seems to be met with failure or fondling. After escaping the very rapey hands of one Kevin Spacey, whom she was introduced to for a supposed business venture, Tess quits her job and lands a new secretary gig, but this time, her boss is (surprise!) a woman. The villainous Katherine Parker (played to pointy perfection by Sigourney Weaver) lulls Tess into thinking that she is on her team with catchy catch phrases and empty promises. After Tess finds out that one of her ideas has been stolen by the ole' boss, she decides to take her career trajectory into her own hands by posing as an executive while Katherine is away. There are many, many reasons we love this film: the horrid fashion, the wedding crashing, Harrison Ford's chest/face and the triumphant Carly Simon tune that plays the film out are just a few.

We were just at the Paramount last night and the beauty of that place never ceases to amaze us. If you haven't been to a Summer Film Series flick this year, we strongly suggest that you hit this one up, as it should be a ton o' fun. And don't forget if you buy a ticket for the first film, you get the second one for free. Also, in conjunction with this particular double feature, if you purchase your tix between 9am and 5pm at the Paramount box office, you will get them for half price and receive a free small popcorn and soda, which is a darn good deal. You may be able to make it today if you hurry, but if not, try again tomorrow.

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