When we got the news that Dolly Parton had passed away, I knew what I had to do. I wanted to watch this movie again. Does its comedy still play well to a contemporary audience, after more than 40 years? Let's see.

The main setting is one of those big, busy and faceless office rooms, filled with desks and with people working diligently behind them. Welcome to one of the floors of Consolidated Companies. Here, Violet Newstead (Lily Tomlin) is the staff supervisor. Doralee Rhodes (Dolly Parton) is the boss's secretary. Roz (Elizabeth Wilson) is the boss's administrative assistant, aka company spy. And Judy Bernly (Jane Fonda) has just joined the staff as a recently divorced woman who needs a job, any job. They all report to the boss from hell, Franklin Hart Jr. (Dabney Coleman), who is accurately referred to several times as "a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot."

We don't know exactly what business Consolidated actually does, but everybody sure seems to be busy at it. Except for Hart.

After each one of the women has an especially exasperating encounter with Hart, Violet, Doralee and Judy bond for a girls' night out. They each fantasize about how they would kill the boss, if given the chance. (Doesn't everyone?) Soon enough, their fantasies come shockingly close to reality. And the only way out for them is to kidnap Hart and lock him up in his own home, until they can get official proof that he's been embezzling from the company.

These are Lucy-and-Ethel-level shenanigans, here. And we have to wonder if the trio can pull the situation off before Hart's devoted wife Missy (Marian Mercer) comes home from an extended vacation. The deadline looms. Fingers crossed.

The actors are perfectly cast for their characters. This isn't the only time that Coleman has portrayed this kind of boss. I think of him in the role of soap opera director Ron Carlisle in Tootsie (1982), and also in that of businessman Nelson Fox, father of Tom Hanks' character Joe Fox, in You've Got Mail (1998). He is definitely believable as Frank Hart. Tomlin and Parton play the kind of strong women that they are in real life. It's additionally amusing to witness Fonda taking on a more timid role at first and NOT to be the leader of the pack. Watching her character Judy learn how to manage the monster Xerox copier is a distinctly hilarious scene.

9 to 5 is still a lot of fun to watch. It's got female empowerment written all over it, and Dolly, Lily and Jane make a great team to be pitted against The Man. Of course, after you watch this movie, you'll end up singing Dolly's hit song, "Nine to Five," for the rest of the day. Which may not be a bad thing.

Thanks for the continued entertainment, everybody! Best wishes, Dolly. I guess you can tell Dabney that we said hi.