Long Shot (2019)

Directed by: Jonathan Levine | 124 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen, June Diane Raphael, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Ravi Patel, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Serkis, Randall Park, Tristan D. Lalla, Alexander Skarsgård, Aladeen Tawfeek, Aviva Mongillo, Braxton Herda, Lisa Kudrow

‘Long Shot’ is a romantic comedy starring Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron. Rogen plays Fred Flarsky, a talented, driven journalist who works for an underground newspaper. As a Nazi, he infiltrates a neo-Nazi group to write an article about it. Just before they can finish the swastika tattoo in the opening scene, he is unmasked as an infiltrator. Theron plays Charlotte Field, United States Secretary of State. Because the current POTUS wants to devote himself to his film career, a vacancy is open. Charlotte didn’t really want to run until 2024, but things just happen the way they do, so she jumps at the chance to become US president with both hands. A public survey shows that Charlotte still needs to do something about her image, so her team looks for someone who can write good speeches for her.

When Fred loses his job because the newspaper is bought by a big media company, which he doesn’t want to work for on principle, his best friend Lance (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) takes him to a party where Boyz II Men perform. There, Charlotte also seems to go crazy on the dance floor. Fred and Charlotte know each other from back in the day when she babysited him when she was 16 (he is three years younger). Of course, the two have lost touch since high school. A flashback scene makes it clear that Charlotte was already “out of his league” even then. The two have a short chat and a day or so later someone from Charlotte’s staff contacts Fred to invite him for an interview. It takes some time, but in the end Fred decides to accept Charlotte’s offer: he becomes her regular speechwriter.

‘Long Shot’ is one such comedy that is based on the principle of opposing characters and the situations that arise from them. In the case of this film by Jonathan Levine (“Warm Bodies”), it works great. It helps that the characters are very convincing and the chemistry between the two actors is fantastic. It’s that Rogen is already married, otherwise you’d wish he and Theron were a couple in real life too! Fred is a wonderfully provocative character, who in his innocence does not know that he is more contrarian than what is considered normal. Just take the clothes he wears for the first official meeting with the Minister: cargo pants and a tatty sports jacket in bright colors. Charlotte is, of course, all elegance, and she was as a teenager, so it’s easy to imagine why Fred thinks she doesn’t stand a chance. It can be predicted that it will happen, but it is also exactly the outcome you want as a viewer. Of course there are a lot of obstacles to overcome, but the way the scenario handles this is really commendable.

With ‘Long Shot’ Jonathan Levine has made a very sympathetic, intelligent film that will have you laughing from ear to ear and which will then take a warm place in your heart. Highly recommended!