The Associate
A sharp-witted businesswoman invents a male partner to overcome Wall Street sexism, only to find her most successful disguise becoming her biggest professional liability.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- warm
- lazy sunday
- holiday movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film an uninspired gender-disguise farce, though they recognized Whoopi Goldberg’s comic energy and its critique of male-dominated business culture.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Laurel Ayres receives institutional respect through the fictional male partner Robert Cutty while her own expertise is overlooked.
Laurel invents Robert Cutty to attract clients, then must sustain the deception when they demand meetings.
The plot contrasts Laurel’s labor and business intelligence with the credit claimed by senior male investors.
The film is identified as a Christmas film and balances Wall Street deception with accessible comic sentiment.
Films like The Associate, and why
Tootsie
gender disguise comedy, workplace sexism, and a protagonist building professional autonomy
Working Girl
sharp social satire, professional deception, and an outsider navigating a male-dominated institution
Mrs. Doubtfire
warm identity farce centered on deception, ambition, and romanticized professional success
9 to 5
female-led workplace comedy combining gender politics, ambition, and ensemble humor
Movie Details
- Director
- Donald Petrie
- Release Date
- 1996-10-25
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (245)
Cast
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Dianne Wiest
- Eli Wallach
- Tim Daly
- Bebe Neuwirth
- Austin Pendleton
- Lainie Kazan
- George Martin
- Kenny Kerr
- Lee Wilkof
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Associate about?
- A sharp-witted businesswoman invents a male partner to overcome Wall Street sexism, only to find her most successful disguise becoming her biggest professional liability.
- What is The Associate like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Associate as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Associate violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Associate.
- What did critics think of The Associate?
- Critics generally found the film an uninspired gender-disguise farce, though they recognized Whoopi Goldberg’s comic energy and its critique of male-dominated business culture.
- Which films are like The Associate?
- Films with a similar feel include Tootsie, Working Girl, Mrs. Doubtfire, and 9 to 5.
- How long is The Associate?
- The Associate runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Associate?
- In United States, The Associate streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
