The film follows Laurel Ayres (played by Whoopi Goldberg), a talented and ambitious African American investment banker working on Wall Street. Despite her exceptional skills and qualifications, Laurel faces discrimination and sexism in the male-dominated world of finance.
Frustrated by the glass ceiling and unable to advance in her career, Laurel decides to take matters into her own hands. She creates a fictional white male partner named Robert S. Cutty to serve as the face of her successful investment firm, allowing her to gain access to lucrative business deals and opportunities that were previously unavailable to her.
As Robert Cutty, Laurel quickly rises to the top of the corporate ladder, gaining admiration and respect from her colleagues and clients. However, she struggles to maintain the facade and balance her personal and professional lives as the demands of her new identity take their toll.
Meanwhile, Laurel’s former boss, Frank (played by Tim Daly), becomes suspicious of Robert Cutty’s true identity and launches an investigation to uncover the truth. Laurel must navigate a series of humorous and increasingly absurd situations to keep her secret from being revealed.
In the climax of the film, Laurel’s deception is finally exposed during a high-stakes business meeting. Despite facing backlash and criticism for her actions, Laurel ultimately decides to come clean and reveal her true identity to her colleagues and clients.
In the end, Laurel’s bravery and honesty are rewarded, and she earns the respect of her peers for her intelligence, talent, and determination. The film concludes with Laurel starting her own successful investment firm, proving that she doesn’t need to hide behind a fictional persona to succeed in the world of finance.
“The Associate” is praised for its witty humor, sharp social commentary, and Whoopi Goldberg’s charismatic performance. It offers an entertaining and insightful look at the challenges faced by women and minorities in the corporate world while delivering a message of empowerment and self-acceptance.