Review of An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) by Melinda W — 24 Jun 2010

Has women's lib really progressed this far in 30 years? How could a film where the female characters depend so entirely on men for their success and happiness have been seen as romantic? Paula is physically rescued from her life by a man because she apparently can't do it on her own and we're supposed to swoon? Even the token female naval cadet can't make it through the training programme without literally being pushed over the barrier by a man.

I guess the producers at the time thought they were being very modern by including a woman in the navy at all. This is not the kind of 'chick flick' that I would want my daughters to watch.