Search - Working Girl on DVD

Ethically questionable but otherwise superb

careful buyer | CT USA | 01/18/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I missed this film in theatrical release, but manage to watch it whenever I can on television. I recently purchased the DVD only to discover that there were several generally amusing scenes in the trailer that never made it into the movie - a bit of a mystery. The screenplay for this movie starts with a somewhat shaky premise that the means justify the end - that if you can't get an honest break but happen to work for an unethical boss who steals your ideas and gives you no credit, you can be as manipulative as you wish to get a chance to show how smart you are. This is hardly a palatable business lesson, ladies and gentlemen, and I have to fight down my qualms about this with every viewing.That said, and with that reservation, as a movie, it has a lot going for it: seamless direction by Mike Nichols; flawless ensemble acting from Melanie Griffiths, Sigourney Weaver, Harrison Ford (sigh!), Joan Cusack (with the most outrageous eye makeup in history)and people like Oliver Platt, Kevin Spacy and David Duchovny in tiny parts; great love scenes - humorous, tender and not too graphic; an optimistic ending; and one of the best songs ever written by Carly Simon.But, oh my, the beginning of this movie caught me totally off guard! In a literally breath-taking helicopter pan around Lady Liberty and New York Harbor, the shot of lower Manhattan of course comes to rest on the World Trade Center towers, soaring and golden in the morning sunlight before the camera pans down to pick up the characters commuting to New York on the Staten Island Ferry. Beautiful, timeless, tragic."

An upbeat movie with an unforgettable theme song

Classic Movie watcher | 11/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
It's been 15 years since I first saw this movie. All these years I still remember the opening scene where Tess (Melanie Griffth), in her secretary outfit but wearing sports shoes, was on the ferry heading for the concrete jungle in Manhattan, accompanied by the unforgettable chorus of the theme song. It was early in the morning and Tess was just one of the many working at the low echelon for the big corporations.

Having seen the movie again on DVD recently, I find the plot itself original and not a bit out of date. The clothes and hairstyles of the actresses are conspicuously different (afterall, it's the 80's). Apart from that, the movie itself enticed the audience with its dramatic breadth and emotional depth.

As the story unfolded, Tess, a secretary who went to night schools and read magazines to upgrade herself, thought she striked gold when she explained her idea to her "understanding" boss Katharine (Sigourney Weaver), only to find later that Katharine stole her idea and pretended it was her own. Out of sheer determination and intelligence, Tess reversed her fortune by imposturing as a senior executive, teamed up with Jack (Harrison Ford) and was so close to completing an ingenious business deal - until Katharine came back from her leg injury and took control of the boardroom...

Despite the apparent Cinderella happy ending, the fluid story-telling lured the audience to find out what Tess exactly did to triumph in the end. By asking a critical question in the right place at the right moment, Tess turned her fortune again. The last 10 minutes of the movie was intriguing. Success, when it did come eventually, was far beyond Tess's expectations. And it was not only Tess, but secretaries just like her, who cheered for her.

The success of the movie owed much to the superb cast - the refreshed and good looking Melannie Griffth, cunning and calculating boss Signourney Weaver, the charming Harrsion Ford and the ever supportive best friend Joan Cusack; the well-written script which radiated warmth and conveyed an upbeat message - merits and efforts count and will prevail over evil; not to forget the easy to hum tune. Without any of these, the movie would have been a one too many formulaic Cinderella story.

The most entertaining movie of its genre - Working Girl the movie is worth watching again.

(Incidentally, the movie's success spawned a short-lived TV series Working Girl in 1990, starring Sandra Bullock.)"

Goes to show ever body wants to make it somewhere.....

Lady Raven | Brooklyn, New York | 02/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A Classic
'Working Girl' is a classic. The villian, Ms. Weaver, is both deliciously evil as well as scarily realistic. Harrison Ford is excellent as the white knight, with a good mix of Wasp entitlement and sweaty armpits. This is before his acting slid to just staring lost at the screen for various lengths of time to convey different emotions. The movie brings me to the verge of tears at least three times and the ending is beautiful. The soundtrack, featuring Carly Simon and the St. Thomas boys choir, is sublime. When 'Let the River Run' hits as the camera pulls away from Melanie within her new office in the World Trade Center you can only wish that life is that fair."

A Smart Romantic Comedy

Mark J. Fowler | Okinawa, Japan | 12/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Melanie Griffith in the role of her life. Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Joan Cusack, Alec Baldwin and the remainder of the cast are at the absolute TOP of their game - and Ms. Griffith more than holds her own in a difficult role. Difficult to realistically portray a Staten-Island Secretary who has ambition but all the cards stacked against her as a sympathetic character, but Griffith succeeds. You WANT her to succeed, and Melanie's "Tess" does."