WHAT’S IT ABOUT

A male chauvinist is transported to a matriarchal society, facing challenges from a formidable female version of himself.

MOVIESinMO REVIEW

Credit for accomplishment is seldom given for what is rightfully deserved by those deserving it. Even so, Ladies First, the 2026 British remake of the 2018 French picture I Am Not an Easy Man, takes much the same stance. The remake takes a smarter and sharper source material and presents the film in a different accent, but with an end result that entertains but does not really challenge the audience. However, the remake succeeds often enough due largely to two actors that won’t allow the material to drag them down. The story drops us into the life of Damien Sachs, a man who genuinely believes the world was built for him. Played by Sacha Baron Cohen, Damien is a senior executive at a marketing company, dressed well, moving fast, and treating women like furniture. When a talented employee named Alex Fox, who has given twenty years of her career to this company, receives a long-overdue promotion, Damien dismisses her immediately. He tells her she is only there as an “official female representative.” Alex, who has earned far more than that title, walks right out of the building. Damien, distracted by a woman walking past, crashes into a lamp post. When he opens his eyes, everything looks the same. But nothing is. He has landed in a matriarchal society, a world where women hold all the power and men are expected to smile, be quiet, and look good while doing it. The film earns its laughs by keeping this world grounded. The billboards now feature nearly naked men advertising cologne. Books and films that once starred male heroes now center women, including, in a sharp little detail, the Harry Potter series. Food products are marketed as low-fat options for men who need to watch their figure. None of it is exaggerated for the sake of comedy. It is simply the world we already live in, with the genders flipped. That is the point, and director Thea Sharrock, who previously directed the celebrated Wicked Little Letters, understands this completely. What grounds the idea of a mirror world is that the women in the alternate reality do not hold power gracefully or wisely, and they act the same way that men do nowadays, with the same arrogance, dismissiveness, and blind belief in their own abilities. Ladies First makes its strongest statement when it explains that it is not trying to create an image of how the world would appear if only women were leading, but instead, it presents an example of how the world appears when anybody (regardless of gender) uses their power without thought. This question is not given enough time in this film. Rosamund Pike steps fully into her alternate-world role as the powerful, commanding version of Alex Fox. Pike is best known for intense, dramatic work, so watching her move through comedy with this much ease is genuinely impressive. She carries the character with authority and never lets Alex become just a love interest or a lesson for Damien to learn. Even when Alex accepts Damien’s apology with very little pushback near the end, Pike keeps her dignity intact through sheer presence. That final acceptance could have made Alex look weak. In lesser hands, it would have. Pike does not let that happen. Cohen does an excellent job at carrying the comedic burden of Damien. He has the perfect physique for portraying someone who thinks of himself as the center of the universe. Interestingly, Damien’s character is not like many of the characters we view as either “misunderstood” or “long-lost geniuses.” Rather, he is an unpleasant person for most of the movie, and the script takes its time in changing this opinion of him. The downside is that this turnaround occurs too rapidly and almost at the end of the film itself. While there are some minor achievements (such as Damien giving a genuine apology to his assistant, Ruby), much of the film simply depicts Damien continually failing up and does not illustrate to the audience the length of time he must spend growing. Therefore, when it is finally revealed how much harm he has done, there are only ten minutes left in the film, which will not allow enough time to redeem himself. The performers surrounding the leads have done an admirable job giving the production the confidence needed to succeed. Fiona Shaw’s performance is typical of how she generally performs; she is quietly but powerfully intense. Charles Dance and Kadiff Kirwan both play strong characters within their worlds. Richard E. Grant, who plays “Pigeon Man,” delivers an inspiring and uplifting performance that makes you want him to appear in all of the scenes. Finally, Emily Mortimer and Kathryn Hunter perform at a level of professionalism and dedication that supports the entire ensemble and ensures that the film does not fall apart even during its weakest moments. The third act is where Ladies First stumbles. The ending reaches back toward the original French film in a way that feels forced and unearned in this version. The original built a different emotional path to that conclusion. This remake uses the same destination, but a completely different road, and the journey does not hold up under that weight. Although it clocks in at 90 minutes, it does not feel too long. It is sure of itself; will land almost all of its comedic beats, and it believes that its audience will understand what it is trying to say and does not need to explain everything to them. Unlike Barbie, it will not alter the way you view the world. Once the credits are done rolling, it has no lasting impact on you as a viewer. However, it provides 90 minutes of pure enjoyment through the two main actors who give more than the script calls for. Ultimately, you’re at home, and it’s on your TV. Ladies First knows exactly who/what it is meant to be – it’s called Netflix and chill.

OUR RATING – A LESSON LEARNED 6