Early in this film secretary Tess McGill has moved to a new job. Her new boss is Katharine Parker, who works in Mergers and Acquisitions at a New York company. She seems friendly and encourages Tess to pitch in with her ideas. Tess does this when she suggests that a firm which is looking to acquire a television station might be better off getting a radio station instead. She is soon told that the company weren't interested but is still complimented for the idea. After Katherine breaks a leg while skiing Tess learns that far from dropping the radio plan Katherine had stolen it. Tess then sets about setting up the deal by contacting investment broker Jack Trainer; of course she doesn't tell him she is 'only' a secretary. All goes fairly well but inevitably Katherine eventually finds out and accuses Tess of stealing the idea. This film is a lot of fun; the plot holds few surprises but that isn't a problem as it isn't the stort of film where one expects twists. Despite only appearing third on the cast list this is definitely Melanie Griffith's film; she is rarely off screen and is a delight as Tess; a character one can't help rooting for. Harrison Ford is on fine form as Jack and Sigourney Weaver impresses as the duplicitous Katharine. The romantic subplots are handled well and don't feel forced; they also provide quite a few laughs. The film has aged pretty well; only the huge '80s hair really dates things! Overall I'd say this may be fairly light weight but it is a lot of fun and well worth watching.

The epitome of cliché, Working Girl takes your typical rags to riches story taking place in the male-dominated business world, inserts strong female characters, and turns the film into a particularly good feminist anthem. While the movie does have strongly developed themes, it is not good. It's a funny romantic comedy, but that does not excuse the blatant, overdone stupidity of the whole production.There is nothing special about this movie. Nothing technically appealing, visually stunning, or cinematically special. So the screenplay, in order to make this banal movie more appetizing, flips the gender roles, making this rom-com more interesting, but ultimately the same movie. Better and more sophisticated than Clueless (1995), it still falls far short of When Harry Met Sally (1989). The people making this film must have patted themselves on the back for their clever film, failing to see the façade that it truly is. They put a masquerade mask to hide the pathetic truth of this movie. But it's really just a bland and unseasoned chicken with a little salt sprinkled on top.The acting of a few of the primary characters is quite good, while others fall as short as the film. Both Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford act well for the role, but not much more. However, their dynamic together is truly felt and earns the film at least one point for some authenticity. Sigourney Weaver's performance seems tasteless and stiff, typical of the mean boss. Joan Cusack is the only true star in this movie, capturing the energy and eccentricity of her character, creating humor and making her scenes enjoyable.There's not much else to this bland film. At least, it was funny.

Upon first glance of executive Sigourney Weaver, you half expect her to be the hard nosed bitch boss to work for, and when Melanie Griffith gets the job as her new secretary, she's flabbergasted by Weaver's instant good nature. But this woman is a phony, and it's fun to watch Weaver be exposed for all her passive/aggressive niceness that is really more fake than most Hollywood starlet's hair colors. This is the big corporate world of New York City where finding how to succeed in business can really bring you instant enemies through the petty jealousies that take over the human soul. Griffith's just been fired for her humiliation for a sexually aggressive male executive at her previous firm, and her employment agent (Olympia Dukakis in an amusing cameo) gives her one last chance with a very strict warning that it will be her last chance.In her new company, she's made privy to every inside secret that Weaver knows, and it appears that this seemingly great lady is mentoring her for something beyond being a secretary. When Griffith takes Weaver's offer of sharing her opinions of how to advertise, Weaver turns it around and makes it her own idea, and that brings upon initial shock then revenge as the seemingly ditzy Melanie turns the tables, both personally and professionally, going after Weaver's man (Harrison Ford) as well. She pretends to be an executive with the same firm to get close to Ford and pretty soon, they are sharing more than just business meetings. But deception is always exposed, and for both Weaver and Griffith, one will fall and one will rise based upon that deception.This is so funny and true, and having worked in corporate America for over 20 years, I have seen many archetypes of all of these characters. Weaver delivers one of the most glamorous and funny performances of all time, so sunny and welcoming, but with a glint of evil behind that offer of mentoring. Griffith is massively surprising, with that wisp of a voice making you not take her seriously, and forced to look at your own prejudices because of your pre-judgement of her. As she shows how smart she is (hidden by the insecurities that those with better education has obviously impacted her with), she becomes more clear to watch, to like, to admire. Joan Cusack is the zany best friend who gets some great Eve Arden like cracks, while Alec Baldwin is Griffith's sleazy boyfriend, as oily as any cheater can be. Ford underplays a great deal, knowing he's in a woman's picture. This may be the dirty word "chick flick", but it is one that men with open minds can enjoy and watch over and over. Thanks to the Carly Simon opening theme, this scores a big A+, and in the final scene when Griffith scores her big triumph, there is a great moment that every lady executive should look to as they climb the ladder of success which until a few decades ago was mostly a man's world.

If Katherine and Jack are so close to being married why does Jack not know that Tess is in Katherine's office? I would think that if a couple is that close to being married they would be quite familiar with each others offices. Anyway, I do like this movie. I've probably seen it 7 or eight times. I'm a heterosexual male, I love women and consider myself to be a gentleman and I feel so sorry for Tess in the horrible way that nearly everyone treats her! The character of Tess is that of a good woman and it hurts me to see a good woman mistreated. With the exception of Jack and her fellow secretaries almost everyone treats her like dirt! Including her sleazy "boyfriend" played by Alec Baldwin, her low as pond scum male co-workers not to mention the quintessential bitch Katherine! All of this, of course eventually results in a great "feel good" ending which causes me to cheer for Tess's triumph!