The Associate (1996)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

One of my all time favorites.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The Associate (1996): Dir: Donald Petrie / Cast: Whoopi Goldberg, Diane Wiest, Tim Daly, Bebe Neuwirth, Eli Wallach: A woman disguises herself as a male to prove a point. The title regards someone who doesn't exist. In this case the screenwriter. It stars Whoopi Goldberg as a hard working woman on Wall Street who quits her job after a scheming male broker received the promotion due her. She attempts Wall Street elsewhere but her gender creates a problem so she invents Robert S. Cutty. After a makeup job she is able to carry out meetings but he gets the credit. When things get really out of hand she is assisted by her secretary in in staging Cutty's death, which lands them both in jail. Director Donald Petrie does his best with the unoriginal material. Whoopi Goldberg holds her own despite the predictable outcome, and Diane Wiest elevates the standard role of secretary to amusing levels that payoff. Tim Daly is cardboard as the schemer whom took Goldberg's opportunity. His role is pretty straight forward and about as boring as a class speech. Also appearing is Bebe Neuwirth who is sexually interested in Cutty but again, the role is lifeless. Finally veteran Eli Wallach makes a wasted appearance to remind us that we need to see his earlier roles. Theme exposes male chauvinism that fails as a screenplay but big fans of Goldberg will likely associate best with it. Score: 6 / 10

I'm surprised this film wasn't a bit more successful (it lost a ton of money) and better regarded than the rating it gets here. Overall, I enjoyed it.I thought Whoopi Goldberg was great as a struggling and then successful financial adviser. I wasn't clear -- was that her as Robert Cutty, or a stand-in? A real treasure here is the supporting part by Diane Weist as the secretary. Every time I see her I think what a treasure she is.The other supporting actors do their jobs, but hardly stand out. It is nice to see Eli Wallach as a rich businessman...he was 80 when he made this film, and although always a supporting actor, he always did a fine job. Tim Daly was appropriately sleazy in his role. And, it was nice to see Bebe Neuwirth (who most people recognize as Frazier Crane's wife) in a different part.Overall, the plot was handled nicely, with the overarching moral lesson being that in all walks of life there will be people who are inherently talented, but sometimes go unrecognized if they don't fit the usual racial (or other) pattern. The one part of the plot where things sort of fell apart was Robert Cutty's appearance at the hotel; this was sloppy and just didn't feel right. And blowing him up in a car -- the man who didn't even exist -- also seemed a bit slapstickish. But aside from those two areas, the script was pretty good.No, it's not the greatest comedy film ever made, but it's pretty decent and had a good moral point. Recommended, though it may not find its way to your DVD shelf.

Very mild spoilers....This film is a fun romp through all kinds of business world clichés - which are only clichés because they are all so true! I'm a WG fan all the way and I especially loved her in this film (she had ME believing for a few minutes here and there that she really was a white man!) But Dianne Wiest was absolutely THE BEST in this movie. I just loved her character, and as always DW is likable, funny, sweet-natured, a little timid on the surface, but UNDERNEATH is a hotbed of energy and fire in the belly. And yet always so understated. I especially love her line pointing out that she and Whoopi have no way to get home after their attempt to fake Robert's death in a car explosion - the line delivered so quietly and matter-of-factly: "We came in THAT car." FUN FUN FUN movie! One to watch over again - more than once.

I just saw this movie and it was pretty funny. It would've probably been better to me if I worked at Wall St. because through the whole beginning of the movie, it deals with Wall St. type of stuff. But as the movie went on it got to be funny and then I began to understand it more. Whoopi Goldberg wasn't as funny or as good as I thought she would be. I found her to be a bit boring at times and she looked as though she didn't want to do that movie. However, Dianne Wiest came in and saved the whole movie. I completely loved her as Sally, Whoopi's eager assistant. The credit goes to her and a little to Whoopi. I thought Whoppi was funny when she dressed up as Robert Cutter. This movie was pretty good overall with a sort of Mrs. Doubtfire look to it!!