10s Movie Review - Long Shot

Director: Jonathan Levine
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 124 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, O’Shea Jackson Jr., June Diane Raphael, Ravi Patel, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Serkis, Randall Park, Lisa Kudrow, Alexander Skarsgård

Description: Journalist Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) reunites with his childhood crush, Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), now one of the most influential women in the world. As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte hires Fred as her speechwriter and sparks fly.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 38: A POLITICAL MOVIE

Review: Opposites attract. A given for many romantic comedies. But when the chemistry is bad, it doesn’t work. Luckily for us, the very different Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen work super well together. A very unlikely duo in a very different kind of romcom.
First, the contrast: Rogen plays the cheeky investigative journalist Fred Flarsky. He refuses to work for a money-hungry media tycoon and quits his job. Theron is Secretary of State Charlotte, very ambitious and wants to run for President. The two know each other from their childhood. When their paths cross at a party, Fred manages to make an unforgettable impression on Charlotte. Because she has to work on her sense of humor, she hires Fred to write her speeches.
Although there is a high degree of predictability present, it doesn’t bother here. Because director Jonathan Levine invests in his characters, their attraction, journeys and setbacks. Which makes “Long Shot” not one of those disposable romcoms, but one with actual depth and dimensional characters. With that, the predictability is easy to forgive.
“Long Shot” also constantly keeps balance. Fred and Charlotte go through palpable emotions and doubts. The supporting characters are simply their for support, they never try to outshine the main characters, they aren’t annoying and are above all functional for the story.
The ending might be a tad to sweet, but overall “Long Shot” is a great romcom set with a political background and two leads that work better together then you might expect. I also love the fact that there is a strong moral compass here: fight for what you love, no matter what the majority thinks. A good, strong comedy.

Rating: 3,5 / 5