5.1
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Comedy • 1996 • 114 min • Teen (13+)
The Associate (1996)
The Associate (1996)
Overview
Whoopi Goldberg plays Laurel Ayres, a sharp Wall Street analyst who invents a fictional male business partner because the real world keeps handing her work's credit to men who didn't earn it. The comedy wraps a pointed critique of corporate sexism and racism inside the disguise-and-farce format. The Progressive label follows from that premise directly. The film is a remake of a 1979 French comedy, but the American version casts a Black woman in the lead, making the systemic barriers Laurel faces feel less abstract. The humor is broad and PG-13 friendly, yet the driving argument is that talent alone does not get you far when the room already decided who deserves to succeed.
Starring Cast
Whoopi Goldberg • Dianne Wiest • Eli Wallach
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Progressive
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
Race Swap: Yes
Family Values: Mixed
Viewer Rating
5.1
Overview
Whoopi Goldberg plays Laurel Ayres, a sharp Wall Street analyst who invents a fictional male business partner because the real world keeps handing her work's credit to men who didn't earn it. The comedy wraps a pointed critique of corporate sexism and racism inside the disguise-and-farce format. The Progressive label follows from that premise directly. The film is a remake of a 1979 French comedy, but the American version casts a Black woman in the lead, making the systemic barriers Laurel faces feel less abstract. The humor is broad and PG-13 friendly, yet the driving argument is that talent alone does not get you far when the room already decided who deserves to succeed.
Starring Cast
Whoopi Goldberg • Dianne Wiest • Eli Wallach
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Progressive
Primary
Political: Leans Left
Confidence: High
The film critiques systemic sexism and racism prevalent in the corporate world, particularly on Wall Street, through the story of a talented Black woman who creates a fictional male partner to achieve recognition. It champions individual ingenuity and female empowerment as a means to overcome entrenched discrimination and break the glass ceiling.
Diversity: High
Confidence: High
A Black actress takes on the lead role as a businesswoman who invents a male associate to overcome gender-based obstacles in the financial industry. The narrative directly critiques the systemic sexism and barriers prevalent in the corporate world.
Secondary
Race Swap: Yes
Confidence: High
The 1996 film "The Associate" features a lead character who was portrayed by a white actor in the 1979 original French movie. In the remake, the character is played by a Black actress, which constitutes a race swap.
Family Values: Mixed
Confidence: High
The film primarily focuses on a woman's professional struggles and gender discrimination in the business world. Family structures and values are not a significant part of the narrative.
LGBTQ: N/A
Confidence: High
The film 'The Associate' does not include any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The narrative focuses on a woman's struggle for recognition in a male-dominated business world, without incorporating queer identities or related storylines.
Trans: N/A
Confidence: High
The film 'The Associate' does not feature any identifiable transsexual characters or themes. Its central plot involves a cisgender woman who adopts a male persona as a strategic disguise to overcome gender discrimination in the corporate world, rather than exploring gender identity or transition.
Female Combat: N/R
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film centers on an original character, Laurel Ayres, who invents a fictional male business partner to advance her career. This narrative device involves a character creating a persona of a different gender within the story, rather than adapting a pre-existing character with a changed gender from source material.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.2
6.3
Critic Ratings
2.8
N/A
More Like This
Leans Progressive
7.1
Jules
(2023)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
7.0
Frozen II
(2019)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Progressive
7.3
Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors
(2018)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
Female Combat: Yes
Leans Progressive
6.8
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
(2017)
Political: Center
Diversity: High
Female Combat: Yes
Not Rated
7.1
Darla in Space
(2024)
Political: Not Rated
Diversity: Not Rated
Leans Progressive
7.0
Do Revenge
(2022)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Progressive
7.2
Cruella
(2021)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Progressive
7.5
ParaNorman
(2012)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Neutral
Progressive
6.7
The Toxic Avenger Unrated
(2025)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
Leans Progressive
8.3
The Favourite
(2018)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Positive
Progressive
6.7
Monster High: The Movie
(2022)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
8.5
Lady Bird
(2017)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
6.6
Stargirl
(2020)
Political: Center
Diversity: High
Leans Progressive
8.0
Booksmart
(2019)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Not Rated
6.6
The Hit-List
(2025)
Political: Center
Diversity: Not Rated
Leans Progressive
7.5
Onward
(2020)
Political: Center
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Neutral
Leans Progressive
7.0
Barbershop: The Next Cut
(2016)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Progressive
7.5
Deadpool 2
(2018)
Political: Center
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Female Combat: Yes
Progressive
7.4
Hustlers
(2019)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Not Rated
7.1
Deadpool & Wolverine
(2024)
Political: Center
Diversity: Not Rated