How to Make a Misogynistic Movie and Call it Feminist

 It’s no secret that men are in a position of power across most of the world. The United States has always been a patriarchy, and that doesn’t seem like it’s changing any time soon. In Ladies First, a misogynistic man gets a taste of his own medicine when he hits his head and wakes up in a universe where women are in charge. Over the course of the film, Damien Sachs (Sacha Baron Cohen) realizes how horribly he treats the women—namely, his subordinate Alex Fox (Rosamund Pike)—in his life. Meanwhile, the audience learns just how deep the internalized misogyny of the film’s writers goes. 

In the flipped universe, women are in charge. They are also given incredibly masculine characteristics. Some of these make sense. Men manspread and mansplain because they are taught that they should take up space. If women were superior, of course they would also do this. However, at other times it feels like they’re mocking women. The ladies of the matriarchal world are shocked that Damien will drink anything other than pink fruity cocktails. They expect him to not wear a suit and instead wear loose, gender neutral clothing. Ladies First has a fundamental misunderstanding of what’s feminine because of the patriarchy and what women do because they genuinely enjoy it.

It’s not to say there was nothing to like about Ladies First. At times it’s incredibly funny. Sacha Baron Cohen is excellent at portraying the worst type of powerful business man, and his shock when women start treating him that same way is fun to watch. Kathryn Hunter gives a standout supporting performance as Glenda, a cleaner in the patriarchy and the business’s owner in the matriarchy. 

Rosamund Pike’s performances are always fascinating to watch. She plays so cold until she doesn’t, flipping in an instant to create magnetic sexual tension with all of her co-stars (except, notably, that one time she played gay). It was the perfect casting alongside Sacha Baron Cohen—the enemies to lovers dynamic was something I found myself supporting. Outside of her banter with Baron Cohen, though, Pike wasn’t given much to work with. Despite Alex’s initial opposition to Damien, she was the quintessential manic pixie dream girl, existing as a vehicle for the male character’s growth and betterment. 

I don’t think there’s necessarily an issue with this movie as long as expectations are kept incredibly low for the messaging. Perhaps some centrist men who don’t have close relationships with the women in their lives will be changed by this. Maybe some women will enjoy watching a man squirm under the pressure of objectification and workplace sexual assault. For me, though, this movie was far more egregious than Barbie in its promotion of rudimentary early 2000s era girlboss feminism. At least the star of Barbie was a woman. 

If you’re looking for an inoffensive film to watch with your parents this weekend, consider putting on Ladies First. Otherwise, start your 43rd rewatch of Legally Blonde (2001) for a more accurate, more entertaining representation of women’s struggles under the patriarchy.