Netflix’s latest satirical rom-com Ladies First, now streaming, stars Sacha Baron Cohen as a swaggering ad executive who gets a reality check when he wakes up in a parallel world where women run everything and men are treated as second-class citizens.
The film, a remake of the French hit Je Ne Suis Pas Un Homme Facile, pairs Cohen with Rosamund Pike as Alex Fox, a sharp corporate strategist who becomes his unlikely love interest—and his biggest adversary. The premise is simple but cutting: flip the power dynamic and watch an entitled guy squirm.
Cohen delivers a surprisingly restrained performance, ditching his usual over-the-top antics for genuine character moments, while Pike anchors the film with steely intelligence and rapid-fire wit. Their on-screen chemistry—part romantic tension, part ideological sparring—gives the comedy real emotional weight.
The film works best when it’s lampooning workplace sexism from the flip side. Scenes where Damien gets talked over or dismissed in meetings hit hard precisely because they mirror what women experience daily. The script, penned by Katie Silberman and others, balances cringe-worthy gags with clever one-liners about dating, power, and corporate culture.
Where Ladies First stumbles is in its repetitiveness. The high-concept joke gets worn thin, and the 84-minute runtime doesn’t leave much room for deeper exploration of this inverted world or the characters inhabiting it. Some will wish the film had more bite; others will find the satirical setup stretched beyond its logical conclusion.
Director Thea Sharrock brings a polished, glossy sheen to the project, making it feel like a premium Netflix original rather than a one-note gimmick film. For fans of smart, socially conscious rom-coms willing to embrace some silliness,
delivers a fun weekend watch. Just don’t expect a profound examination of gender politics.
