Girl meets Boy. Girl is older than Boy. Girl babysits Boy. Boy develops crush. Boy kisses Girl, gets an erection, is embarrassed beyond belief, and never tells a soul. Boy and Girl don’t speak for 25 years. Boy becomes a political journalist, and cares about things so damn much.
Then Girl runs for the Presidency.
What a wild, silly, outrageous premise! But with a stunning script, an incredible cast, and a fantastic soundtrack, Long Shot somehow manages to be so damn hopeful that you can’t help joining in on the dream. Starring Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron as the boy and girl in this rom-com, this movie provides a scathing yet joyful rebuke of America’s – if not the world’s – current political status quo, but it is also wildly funny at every turn. It acknowledges the unfairly gendered struggles of being an imperfect person in love with another imperfect person, yet it also tackles the intersection of celebrity and politician with an excellent wit.
Honestly, I can’t say enough nice things about this movie, but I don’t want to give away any of its punchlines. It’s impressively written, and I can’t get over the excellence with which it is cut. O’Shea Jackson Jr. is an absolute scene stealer as Rogen’s supportive, best bud. And it’s so refreshing to see healthy friendships, healthy working relationships, and healthy romantic relationships in one movie!
It’s worth mentioning the excellent character contributions made here by
Alexander Skarsgård, Andy Serkis, and Bob Odenkirk as crappy guys who want crappy things from Theron’s Charlotte Field.
Skarsgård’s Canadian accent would already be enough to make his Justin Trudeau stand-in character work, but in combination with Serkis’ creepy Baby Boomer makeup and Odenkirk’s TV-minded President, they all portray a delightfully awful ensemble of jerks with grace, and to great effect.
I’d like to encourage viewers who might otherwise avoid a modern comedy or romantic venture, rather than going into detail about plot points that are better experienced as a surprise. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a hard sell for the modern comedy – it takes a lot to convince me that crass butt jokes and unreasonably mean people are worth a movie ticket. Perhaps this is why Rogen and his ilk are so effective at drawing me, unwilling as I may be, into a theater for a comedy film (and if you saw Disaster Artist in 2017, you’ll understand what I mean). However, in this movie, every joke is a necessary setup for some plot relevant aspect
Also, if you are like me and generally can’t stand romantic comedies, you will be thoroughly and wonderfully surprised by this very funny flick. While making you laugh, it will also make you believe in the proverbial power of love, etc etc. It is actually something of a treatise on how hope prevails, and the right people can win seats of power to do real good in the world, even in America. Especially in America.
All while pointing out, accurately, that people jerk off. We ALL do. Because we’re human and being a human being shouldn’t be a deal breaker when pursuing public office to govern other humans.
Go see Long Shot. And make sure to chuckle to yourself when you realize that the title is a ridiculously apt double entendre. Don’t worry, you’ll get it eventually.
What were your thoughts on the movie? Feel free to leave a comment or chat with Alanah on Twitter!
