Long Shot - Review
Director: Jonathan Levine
Cast: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen, Alexandar Skarsgaard, Andy Serkis
Mismatched romantic pairings often form the basis of many rom-coms and Long Shot is no exception. However, the film succeeds in making the tired tropes of the genre fresh and invigorating thanks to its charming leads and tender, hilarious story.
Free-spirited and principled journalist Fed Flarsky (Rogen) has a chance encounter with his former babysitter and childhood crush Charlotte Field (Theron), who is now now of the most powerful and influential politicians in the world. After she decides to campaign for presidency, Charlotte hires Fred as her speechwriter and their professional relationship soon turns into a romantic one.
In terms of the trajectory of its narrative, Long Shot doesn't offer many surprises or throw any curveballs. However, stars Theron and Rogen's performances are winningly charismatic and the connection they establish over the course of the film, despite their glaring differences, is believably endearing. As Secretary of State, Charlotte's lifestyle is hectic and regimented and she scarcely has the opportunity to make an independent, purely selfish decision. When she recruits Fred to inject some humour into her speeches in the hopes of improving her already glowing public image, he reminds her that there is fun to be had in this life of political manoeuvres and constant scrutiny. Refreshingly, Fred is not intimidated by Charlotte's powerful status and relishes her company as they spend more time together getting to know one another, pieced together in a very cute, albeit convenient, montage as they travel across the globe.
It may not attempt to reinvent the wheel in terms of its story beats, but Long Shot cleverly uses humour to address some very current and pressing issues in politics, societal perceptions of women in positions of power and the morality of media conglomerates. Compared to her male contemporaries, Charlotte must work much harder to appear likeable to voters, even though her dedication, experience and passion for implementing much needed change should speak for itself. The glaring disparities are pointedly made throughout as the press are more interested in her dating life rather than her progressive policies and lascivious international media mogul Park Wembley (a prosthetic-heavy Andy Serkis) blackmails both Charlotte and Fred after his demands are not met.
Fred is acutely supportive of Charlotte's near-impossible position of presidential candidate and their unlikely courtship is well-measured, from reintroduction after years of estrangement to eventual love. However, the third act that sees the inevitable cracks start to appear in their secret romance feels rushed and issues, ensuing fallout and subsequent resolution is rapidly thrown together. Although, when you so dearly want a happy ending and for love to conquer all obstacles, the speed at which the conclusion is reached is embraced.
Honest about the current political and social landscape but improbably optimistic about its future, Long Shot is a true grown-up romantic comedy that delivers both qualities in spades.
EB
Cast: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen, Alexandar Skarsgaard, Andy Serkis
Mismatched romantic pairings often form the basis of many rom-coms and Long Shot is no exception. However, the film succeeds in making the tired tropes of the genre fresh and invigorating thanks to its charming leads and tender, hilarious story.
Free-spirited and principled journalist Fed Flarsky (Rogen) has a chance encounter with his former babysitter and childhood crush Charlotte Field (Theron), who is now now of the most powerful and influential politicians in the world. After she decides to campaign for presidency, Charlotte hires Fred as her speechwriter and their professional relationship soon turns into a romantic one.
In terms of the trajectory of its narrative, Long Shot doesn't offer many surprises or throw any curveballs. However, stars Theron and Rogen's performances are winningly charismatic and the connection they establish over the course of the film, despite their glaring differences, is believably endearing. As Secretary of State, Charlotte's lifestyle is hectic and regimented and she scarcely has the opportunity to make an independent, purely selfish decision. When she recruits Fred to inject some humour into her speeches in the hopes of improving her already glowing public image, he reminds her that there is fun to be had in this life of political manoeuvres and constant scrutiny. Refreshingly, Fred is not intimidated by Charlotte's powerful status and relishes her company as they spend more time together getting to know one another, pieced together in a very cute, albeit convenient, montage as they travel across the globe.
It may not attempt to reinvent the wheel in terms of its story beats, but Long Shot cleverly uses humour to address some very current and pressing issues in politics, societal perceptions of women in positions of power and the morality of media conglomerates. Compared to her male contemporaries, Charlotte must work much harder to appear likeable to voters, even though her dedication, experience and passion for implementing much needed change should speak for itself. The glaring disparities are pointedly made throughout as the press are more interested in her dating life rather than her progressive policies and lascivious international media mogul Park Wembley (a prosthetic-heavy Andy Serkis) blackmails both Charlotte and Fred after his demands are not met.
Fred is acutely supportive of Charlotte's near-impossible position of presidential candidate and their unlikely courtship is well-measured, from reintroduction after years of estrangement to eventual love. However, the third act that sees the inevitable cracks start to appear in their secret romance feels rushed and issues, ensuing fallout and subsequent resolution is rapidly thrown together. Although, when you so dearly want a happy ending and for love to conquer all obstacles, the speed at which the conclusion is reached is embraced.
Honest about the current political and social landscape but improbably optimistic about its future, Long Shot is a true grown-up romantic comedy that delivers both qualities in spades.
EB
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