A new Netflix film starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike, titled Ladies First, has drawn comparisons to a 1980s sketch from The Two Ronnies. The film, described as a 'playful satire,' follows a man who suffers a concussion and wakes up in a world dominated by women. The trailer shows Baron Cohen's character navigating a society where female cab drivers leer at him and he is subjected to waxing and impractical underwear.
The Two Ronnies sketch, The Worm That Turned, aired in the eighth series and depicted a dystopian 2012 where women have taken over. Inspired by Margaret Thatcher's premiership, the sketch featured renamed landmarks like 'Big Brenda' and men forced to wear dresses. Critics note that both works share a similar premise, though The Worm That Turned has not aged well, with some YouTube commenters mistaking it for a documentary.
Ladies First is also a remake of the 2018 French film I Am Not an Easy Man by Éléonore Pourriat, which itself was based on her 2010 short Majorité Opprimée. The short film is praised for its serious tone, focusing on a stay-at-home dad who faces systemic neglect and sexual assault, unlike the comedic approach of its successors.
The film is set for release next month on Netflix.
