'Long Shot' A Review

Long Shot is a romantic comedy about Secretary of State Charlotte Fields(Charlize Theron) who after being told by President Chambers(Bob Odenkirk) that he will not seek reelection and endorse her candidacy embarks on an international environmental treaty tour that she plans to culminate in her resignation and candidacy announcement. At the same time Brooklyn journalist Fred Flarsky(Seth Rogen) quits his job at a local newspaper after it is bought by corrupt media mogul Parker Wembly. His best, significantly more successful, friend Frank(O'Shea Jackson Jr.) takes on him on a conciliatory night out and the two, who knew each other as teens, reconnect at a charity event. Charlotte hires Frank as a speech writer and the two reconnect and a romance kindles.

Theron brings her customary charm, magnetism, and breadth of emotion and her typically underutilized comedic chops which are substantial. Rogen plays a version of the affable-fast-talking-stoner archetype which he helped create and it works as it almost always does to a degree. He is, as always funny, but with his age he's able to bring some maturity and dimension to this character which we have mostly seen before. The big surprise is the chemistry the two have, easy and disarmingly heartfelt, and the real issues that the story has the burgeoning couple contend with. There is some actual catharsis and romance in there between some pretty over the top hilarious scenes, traded between both Theron and Rogen at their center, arguably the best scene is an extended party sequence with the two which culminates with Theron, high on moly, in a hostage negotiation. The supporting cast are all exceptionally solid with some real fun pops of character, most notably Jackson as Rogen's exuberant, infectiously positive best friend and June Diane Raphael as Theron's delightfully dry and skeptical chief of staff.

Like many comedies the cinematography doesn't appear to be a top priority however there are a number of sequences that really stun- a montage at the beginning showing Charlotte's overwhelming schedule, the club sequence, and an insurgent attack, among others. That coupled with an absolutely incredible soundtrack with some juicy nostalgia tracks and some current hits all weave together seamlessly to create something captivatingly modern.

The narrative also includes some political satire and gender commentary which feel somewhat understated but because of that feel particularly effective. There are some critisisms that, once again, we have a beautiful women and a scruffy man as romantic partners however at the very least some typical tropes have been swapped. Theron's character is older and successful, Rogen's character is the defacto manic-pixie-dream-girl. This plays more like a funnier and more ambitious gender swapped The American President rather than something regressive.

Startlingly funny, stylish, with impeccable leads.

See It.