9 to 5

9 to 5

During the winter holidays and weekends, my family was notorious for spending our time inside watching random movies from the 1970s and 1980s.  We would go into D&E video (recently closed, RIP) and choose 6 movies for 6 nights for 6 bucks.  These were never the new releases, these were the older films that time and popularity had forgotten.

For one reason or another the films that I distinctly remember watching during this period featured actor Dabney Coleman.  He is the actor that I saw in many films on those cold winter nights.  One that I am most fond of is 9 to 5.

This film is one of the first that I enjoyed with my parents.  It also holds a special place in my family history because it was the movie my parents went to on their first date.  Needless to say, it's a sentimental favorite for me.

This film has a lot going on.  You have a newly single mom (Jane Fonda) who is trying to fit back into the work force, a long-time supervisor that is the true reason for the company's success (Lily Tomlin) and secretary (Dolly Parton) that is blatantly sexually harassed by her boss. The boss is a character that dare you to not hate him.  Although he is perfectly portrayed by the aforementioned Dabney Coleman, he quickly gets under your skin and earns the title of "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot".

The film took me back to another time when smoking was ubiquitous and men saw women as objects.  It shows the transition from this era to one that is flexible and accommodating.  A new era where women get promotions according to their merits, yet pay is still not equal.

This film is fun, funny and witty.  It has a great title song and one of the best pot-smoking scenes that I have seen. (I haven't seen very many, to be fair).  I really enjoyed 9 to 5, it and it put on display an era that seems so foreign to me now and it did so in an entertaining manner.

I categorize this film as:

Nostalgic

Enjoyable

Fonda-tastic! (Jane Fonda is great as an awkward divorcee)

4/5 Stanley Cups. Worth watching and keeping in your collection of films.

Format: Netflix

Viewing Period: One time through, I think.  I was watching kids at the same time.

Inspired me to: Never become a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.  :)

Also to make a difference at my workplace.  Nothing big, just the small stuff.