As I continue to grieve beloved star Dolly Parton, it warms my heart to know that so many of us will be celebrating her on September 25th, in honor of her debut film 9 to 5 (Disc/Download). If you’re planning to toast her with a screening and a cold cocktail, Cinema Sips has you covered.
Starring Dolly, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin as a trio of disgruntled secretaries in a large corporate office, 9 to 5 shouldn’t still be progressive, and yet, it is. Their sexist, predatory boss is a type of man who probably still exists in offices all over the country (certainly, within the White House). Women are still fighting for common sense policies like flexible work hours, job-sharing, in-office childcare, and equal pay, and don’t even get me started on the battle for hybrid and remote work. Sometimes it seems like the whole system is orchestrated to return women to the home and kitchen, but in this movie, they fight back. 9 to 5 dabbles in fantasy with its fairy tale dream sequence and Dolly in her cute cowgirl outfit, and to be honest, the plot goes off the rails after the first thirty minutes. However, sometimes you need a bit of fantasy in order to communicate some very real problems in the workplace. If you think Dolly roping and barbecuing her boss is the most ludicrous thing you’ve ever seen, you obviously haven’t used Microsoft Teams.
My favorite thing about this movie is Dolly’s iconic theme song, “9 to 5”. It still bops! While you’re watching these ladies slip rat poison into the boss’s coffee, pour yourself a Cup of Ambition.
Cup of Ambition
1 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz rye whiskey
2 dashes orange bitters
Dried orange garnish
Add coffee liqueur, rye, and bitters to a shaker with ice. Stir to chill, then strain into a rocks glass with one large ice cube. Garnish with a dried orange.
No shade to Jane and Lily, but Dolly is absolutely the best thing in this movie. She makes every scene funnier, and she brings her trademark wit and charm to what could have been another ditsy blonde stereotype. Through her performances, songs, and charitable legacy, this beautiful butterfly will live on, from 9 to 5, and beyond. Cheers!
