Is Head Office woke?
Head Office (1985)
Movie
Released: January 1, 1985
Wokeness Score
2/10
Not woke
No political or woke messaging whatsoever. Focuses entirely on story, characters, fun, or escapism.
Key Summary Points
- Satirizes corporate greed and nepotism through farce without ideological bias.
- Romance with activist daughter advances plot organically, no social commentary dominance.
- No identity politics, DEI elements, or progressive lectures; pure 1980s black comedy.
Wokeness Analysis
Head Office (1985) is a straightforward satirical black comedy targeting corporate greed, nepotism, ambition, and political corruption in 1980s big business. The plot follows a lazy business school graduate promoted through his senator father's influence at a multinational conglomerate that profits from everything from chicken franchises to nuclear weapons. It lampoons ruthless executives, office backstabbing, and shady dealings like plant closures for cheaper overseas labor and bribing foreign dictators. The female lead is a left-leaning activist protesting a factory shutdown, but this serves the romance and satire without ideological preaching. No modern identity politics, diversity quotas, or social justice lectures appear. Themes of capitalism's excesses and moral compromise are presented through farce and exaggeration typical of the era's comedies, focusing on entertainment and cynicism rather than advocacy. Supporting characters include ambitious women using seduction for advancement, portrayed comically without contemporary framing. The film critiques power structures universally without favoring progressive narratives or marginalizing groups. Release timing and style align with pre-woke era satire like Network influences, prioritizing laughs over messaging. Any light diversity in casting reflects 1980s norms organically, not forced inclusion.
Plot
Jack Issel, a slacker recent business school graduate and son of a U.S. senator, lands a job at the chaotic multinational conglomerate INC through nepotism. He witnesses suicides, backstabbing, and unethical schemes while receiving promotions he doesn't deserve. Mentors teach him cheating and blackmail. Jack falls for Rachael, the CEO's radical left-wing daughter who protests the company's plan to close a U.S. textile plant and relocate to Latin America for profit, involving bribes to a military dictatorship. Jack uncovers the corruption, sabotages the scheme by redirecting bribe money, leading to the CEO's downfall. The story ends with family succession at the firm. The 90-minute film blends slapstick, dark humor, and satire on ambition and power.