Summary
What separates Long Shot from other Rogen comedies is the chemistry not only between the leads but the entire cast. Theron carries the film with comedic chops and gives it its unexpected heart.
Comedies like director Jonathan Levine’s Long Shot should never be taken seriously. Nor should you question giving yourself over to suspended disbelief. This is a comedy, after all. It doesn’t ask you to take the actual day-to-day politics earnestly. Just the sentiment behind them. Levine’s romantic comedy has its gross-out moments, held together by the leads that give the film some unexpected heart.
The film starts with Madam Secretary Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), seeking an endorsement from POTUS (Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk), who has decided not to seek a second term, so he can use his one-term stint to push his popular television career into films. Charlotte is youthful, ambitious, accomplished, and the only thing she has for a personal life is a media-created romance between her and the Canadian Prime Minister (Alexander Skarsgard). Field decides to hire an outspoken reporter named Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen). She happened to babysit as a teenager after a chance run-in. Flarsky has a unique voice and a dogmatic attitude that has just gotten him a place in the unemployment line when he objects to a big-time media conglomerate buying out the paper he writes for. Naturally, as the film moves along and the preparation for the campaign continues, the shenanigans will follow.
Rogen and Evan Goldberg wrote the film. This is their eighth collaboration and the second script Levine has directed from the comedy duo. What separates this Rogan comedy from others is the chemistry between the leads and the entire supporting cast. Since childhood, O’Shea Jackson Jr, as Rogen’s best friend, feels like an old friend while creating just as many laughs. Odenkirk is a standout as a former television star who uses the presidency to improve his own well-being outside the office (sound familiar?). Veteran comedy-character actress June Diane Raphael (Burning Love) is also worth mentioning as Field’s guard dog and campaign manager Maggie Milliken.
Long Shot, yes, is a broad comedy that can tend to go for a few gross-out gags but has a sentimental side that is on full display because of the talent of Theron. A scene with Rogen dancing is unexpectedly charming and surprisingly sweet before coming out of nowhere with unexpected belly-laughs. While Rogen is more mature than expected, anyone who saw Theron’s guest stint as “Mr. F” on Arrested Development knows she has the comic chops to carry this role and then some. If you are in the crowd that says that Rogen couldn’t win over Theron with his charms, remember that Mel Brooks landed Ann Bancroft. Even Julia Roberts married Lyle Lovett. Lastly, my wife has to look at my mug every day. (Lesson for all of you out there: never pass up a chance to build up bonus points).
Long Shot takes comedic aim at the current administration and big business interests. They even take on a cable news channel named after a small, dog-like wild animal with pointed ears. (Paul Scheer, always good for a sleazy laugh or two). With its ideals coming from a time of great political unrest, and has a modern-day pulse with an overall message of change while allowing us to laugh our troubles away. While the film is about 20 minutes too long, Andy Serkis’s Parker Wembley is practically cartoonish. He has an over-sentimental ending that could have gone a different way. It’s an unexpected treat that offers some relief from today’s modern political angst.
