Netflix's New Gender-Swap Comedy Draws Parallels to Classic British Sketch
A new Netflix movie titled Ladies First, starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike, has recently released its trailer, sparking discussions about its origins and inspirations. The film is described as a playful satire where a man, after bumping his head, awakens to a world dominated by women.
A Dystopian Vision with Familiar Themes
In this comedic nightmare, viewers are introduced to a society where a female pope presides, King's Cross station is renamed Queen's Cross, and the protagonist finds himself owning a cat. The trailer showcases Baron Cohen's character enduring waxing sessions, wearing impractical underwear, and facing leers from female cab drivers. One memorable exchange features Rosamund Pike delivering rapid-fire dialogue about delicate anatomical references, highlighting the film's unsubtle humor.
While Ladies First appears to lack nuance, it also seems to lack originality. Comparisons have been drawn to Mel Gibson's 2000 comedy What Women Want, both centering on concussed chauvinists grappling with female perspectives. However, a more direct precursor emerges from British television history.
The Two Ronnies' 'The Worm That Turned'
Scattered throughout the eighth series of The Two Ronnies was a serialized sketch titled The Worm That Turned. This feature-length story depicted a dystopian 2012 society overtaken by women, a concept that has not aged gracefully. Created as a kneejerk reaction to Margaret Thatcher's prime ministership, the sketch imagined a world where women, inspired by her rise, voted men out of power.
In this satirical vision, the women closed The Playboy Club, renamed Big Ben as Big Brenda, and enforced dress codes where men wore dresses. The state police donned leather uniforms reminiscent of Nazi attire, and the plot hinged on men discovering women's fear of mice as their sole weakness. Despite its dated nature, YouTube comments on uploads of the sketch reveal some viewers misinterpret it as a documentary, with remarks about its storyline becoming reality.
Direct Inspirations and Remakes
Ladies First is directly based on the 2018 French film I Am Not an Easy Man by director Éléonore Pourriat, which shares the same premise of a chauvinist head injury leading to a gender-role reversal. That film, in turn, was a remake of Pourriat's 2010 short Majorité Opprimée. The short film stands out for its raw and serious approach, depicting a stay-at-home dad facing systemic neglect, sexual assault, and victim-blaming, without resorting to comedy.
Unlike its successors, Majorité Opprimée tackles the premise with courage, focusing on anger and societal issues rather than laughs. It serves as a poignant contrast to the more lighthearted adaptations, suggesting that the core concept can be explored in diverse ways.
As Ladies First prepares for its Netflix release next month, it invites viewers to reflect on the evolution of gender satire in media, from 1980s sketches to modern streaming comedies.
