"Long Shot" is a collection of romantic comedy beats we've seen many times before and, like most movies of its kind, boils down to the success of the stars. It's okay for movies like "Long Shot" to exist after those that came before it if the romantic pair have the chemistry and charisma to carry us through. Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron make every interaction between them count, so when the movie starts to lag a bit or can't quite find the comedic sweet spot, they are always worth watching.
Aside from operating in familiar terrain, "Long Shot," which was directed by Jonathan Levine and co-written by Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah, has a bit more on its mind. At times, the movie isn't quite sure what it really wants to focus on and functions as a checklist of hot topic issues we face today. Politics, the media and gender roles are all at play throughout the movie and, to its benefit, it never feels like a lecture.
Rogen stars as Fred Flarsky, a journalist who takes his job seriously but quits once he finds out that a large media conglomerate has acquired the paper where he works. Angry at “the man,” he storms out and heads to the office of his best friend Lance (O'Shea Jackson, Jr.) to tell him what just happened. Lance immediately cancels his entire day and takes Fred to a party, where Boyz II Men are supposed to be in attendance, knowing this will cheer Fred up. At the party, Fred catches the eye of Charlotte (Theron), the Secretary of State, who he knew from when they were teenagers.
Charlotte is in the early stages of launching a presidential bid after finding out that the president (Bob Odenkirk) isn't seeking reelection, and she needs to work on her image before announcing. After becoming reacquainted with Fred, she hires him to punch-up and write some of her speeches in order to come across as more likeable and comedic. Together they travel the world, and Charlotte rolls out an environmental plan that she hopes will be the successful start to her campaign.
The comedy in "Long Shot" is scattershot. It’s occasionally hilarious but it often spins its wheels, aiming for the obvious punchlines. The movie is much more interesting in how it walks the line of satirizing today's political landscape without ever fully lambasting. Odenkirk's President Chambers was once a successful television star, which did not translate to a strong presidency. Coupled with Charlotte's role as Secretary of State and bid to become the first female president, "Long Shot" is pointed without being preachy. (Okay, there are blatant jabs at Fox News, but that’s one of the highlights of the movie).
"Long Shot" doesn’t have the stamina to maintain its runtime of a bit over two hours, but Rogen, and, especially, Theron are worthy of keeping your interest. Theron, who won an Oscar for one of the great performances in modern film history for "Monster," is an untapped comedic force, with sharp delivery and timing that she is not recognized for as much as her dramatic work. The supporting cast, including Jackson Jr. and June Diane Raphael, as Charlotte's right hand, all have great moments in the spotlight.
It's such a cliché to say it but we are living in divided times, constantly battling about who's right and who's wrong when it comes to politics and policy. "Long Shot," despite its shortcomings, aims to give reprieve to our embattled culture, and that must be worth something.
| Movie title | Long Shot |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2019 |
| MPAA Rating | R |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron have great chemistry in this occasionally hilarious and often pointed new comedy. |
