Long Shot is a very funny, heartwarming and engagingly smutty romantic comedy starring Seth Rogan and Charlize Theron, directed by Jonathan Levine and co-written by Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah whose previous writing credits include Stephen Spielberg’s The Post.
From the opening scene I wasn’t sure what to expect, with Seth Rogan playing Fred Flarsky, an undercover left-leaning journalist, escaping from a bunch of Neo-nazis in true slapstick comedy style! How could the glamorous and sophisticated movie star Charlize Theron fit into this?
Somehow she does and there is great chemistry between the lead roles, with Theron as Charlotte Field, proving her comedy colours playing a high flying, good-intentioned, US Secretary of State to a TV star/President played by Bob Odenkirk with ambitions to get into films which he sees as a promotion.
Charlotte and Fred are reunited at a party, where they recall Charlotte used to babysit Fred when he was 13. This doesn’t deter Charlotte from hiring Fred as speech-writer and their journey of wish fulfilment begins, helped and hindered in equal measure to comic effect by Fred’s friend played by O’Shea Jackson Jnr (son of rapper Ice Cube), and Charlotte’s staffers played by Jane Diane Raphael (Grace & Frankie) and Ravi Patel (Meet the Patels, American Housewife).
Twenty years ago the lead roles would have been swapped so it’s refreshing to see Seth Rogan display his natural comedy talent in the seemingly less ‘powerful’ role and the implausibility of the situation is overcome with a smart script, excellent supporting cast and lots of laughs.
This is comedy and politics bound up in a witty and charming tale for our fractious times. A welcome escape from current political woes whilst remaining pretty topical, on message and wearing its moral compass – this film will probably just about pass the public’s #MeToo test.
LONG SHOT IS IN UK CINEMAS ON FRIDAY 3RD MAY 2019
