Ladies First (2026)
It is perfectly reasonable to think “ooh, Sacha Baron Cohen in a socially conscious comedy lampooning male chauvinism, written by women, directed by a woman with a top-notch acting roster, which is on Netflix, that sounds perfect! I’ll put it on poste haste”. That’s what I thought, and I’m here to tell you not to put it on.
I find writing about comedies difficult, mainly because it’s hard to make jokes about a film which is funny. Ladies First isn’t very funny, so I can coat the bastard off. Just by suggesting you swerve it I’m performing a public service so this review isn’t superfluous.
Baron Cohen plays Damian (subtle, naat), a monumental bellend who is, by way of a small bump on the head, transported to a world where men are subjugated and women are in charge. This means that Alex (Rosamund Pike), the hardworking lady he promoted only for the optics of having a woman in a higher position, is now his boss.
Ladies First is essentially a flip/reverse scenario, which has been done before and better (e.g. What Women Want). While presenting some neat, world altering ideas- my favourite being that wonder-bras are now for men’s balls, but it’s all so laboured and predictable, short of any actual gags which stick in the mind that even though I made it through to the end, I cannot recommend it.
The most surprising part was that Sacha Baron Cohen, a man who so brilliantly and believably created and portrayed three iconic comedy characters*, feels like he’s acting. Visibly trying to act. It’s as if having actual lines to deliver makes him second guess himself and it is painful to watch, ruining the few, small fun bits, which all involve the women who are clearly relishing the opportunity.
Even if you showed Ladies First to somebody who’d never seen a film before they’d know it isn’t any good. It’d probably put them off films.
No. Ladies First doesn’t provide even enough cheap laughs from a dated concept. 3/10
*Ali G, Borat, Bruno
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