I really like movies that manage to present dark, depressing material in a way that isn’t self indulgent. By not dwelling on the adultery, attempted suicides, loneliness, and corporate ruthlessness we can pay attention to the message better. In the end, this movie shows us a time when women may have found a way into the workplace, but they were still thought of as second class citizens. It’s an important film as a reminder of that if for no other reason. But there are a lot of things to enjoy about the movie; it has humorous moments, and Baxter is a very endearing, put-upon protagonist.
As an aside, the moment where the doctor is trying to revive Fran by slapping the crap out of her and following that with shoving scalding coffee down her throat is probably the most difficult moment in the film to watch. It’s a moment that points out how our paradigms affect our behavior. We do what seems right at the time, but later on, it may seem ridiculous.