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If you need to know what’s going on inside of a typical business, the place to go is to an administrative assistant, or what used to be called a secretary. Depending on your age, the word “secretary” might summon up images of stenography pads and typewriters, Rolodex and telephones, guarding the door to some executive office in a high-rise. Today’s administrative assistant is more likely armed with a cellphone and spreadsheet, hopefully coordinating daily activities or serving customers with the grace of a master conductor.
Here’s a Couch Theater salute to all the unsung heroes out there – the customer service reps, receptionists, accounting reps and account specialists! For a laugh, I present some of the most memorable assistants on the big screen.
“Working Girl” – Tess (Melanie Griffith) goes from receptionist to corporate dealmaker after her idea-stealing boss (Sigourney Weaver) gets laid up with a bum leg.
“Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” – Christina Applegate plays a teen fashionista who takes up breadwinning for the family while mom is out of town. She fudges a resume and gets a job as assistant that lets her flex her design muscle.
“Swimming With Sharks” – Frank Whaley stars as Guy, a Hollywood executive who starts working for a thankless, domineering movie mogul (Kevin Spacey). Guy’s best opportunity may come from kidnapping and revenge on his boss.
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” – The cult classic might be all about Ferris and friends, but when Ferris calls in “sick,” Principal Rooney goes bananas trying to catch him, setting up some memorable scenes for his assistant Grace (Edie McClurg).
“Set It Up” – Two executive assistants (Zooey Deutch and Glen Powell) plot to get their bosses (Taye Diggs and Lucy Lui) together, figuring if they find love, they’ll find far less time to be overbearing!
Dakota Johnson in “The High Note” (Focus Features photo)
“The High Note” – Maggie (Dakota Johnson) works as a personal assistant in the music biz, despite her dreams of becoming a music producer. Her boss, Grace (Tracee Ellis Ross), is a diva of the highest order. When they find the intersection of their talents, they make sweet, sweet music.
“Iron Man” – As the executive assistant and true businesswoman of Stark Industries, we can all appreciate Pepper Potts’ (Gwyneth Paltrow) dedication to her job.
“Ghostbusters” – In a role that’s been parodied and applauded, who can forget Annie Potts as receptionist Janine Melnitz? “We got one, boys!”
© 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.
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