Long Shot

I was honestly surprised. I figured this film would be super one-note—no real range, flat comedy, and an overused, recognizable story structure…AND IT TOTALLY WAS, but hear me out.

This is exactly the plot of the film…it’s basically the trailer:

Boy sees girl at a party.
Girl recognizes boy from the past.
Girl hires boy to work with her.
Boy and girl develop a relationship.
Small confrontation leads to quick reconciliation.
Reconciliation leads to a blossoming situation-ship.
“And boom goes the dynamite…” **Cleveland Brown voice**
Boy and girl have a secret relationship.
Boy and girl figure they aren’t right for each other.
Boy refuses to change for girl’s image.
Boy and girl agree to part ways.
Conflict ensues with girl that jeopardizes something personal to her.
At the 11th hour, girl changes her mind and wants to be with boy.
And they live happily ever after.

Now…that that’s out of the way, the review:

Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen were a great odd couple to match up and it really worked out. And not in that “let’s pair a chubby guy and an attractive girl” bullshit they love to feed to audiences over and over again. Theron plays Charlotte Field, the U.S. Secretary of State working under an incompetent President (tragic and totally not based on anyone in particular, I guess 😏). She’s planning to run for the President of the United States and needs to refresh her image.

Enter Fred Flarsky, played by Rogen, a recently-fired journalist with no real employment prospects is invited to a party and sees Charlotte. They instantly recognize each other as childhood friends, and he immediately embarrasses himself in front of her. She’s impressed by his personality and journalistic abilities, and invites him to help her with an initiative she believes will make her look more “presidential.”

They really played into the late-2000s classic rom-com tropes and made the platonic—sexual tension fun, awkward, and humorous. Rogen’s signature quirk, that laugh, and his ability never to let a joke go is charming and helped push the screenplay. But Theron held her own in this one! Like bruh, I know the Academy Award-winning actress of “Monster…” but this! It was amusing to see her in a comedic role, and she murked it. She rapped a 2Chainz line and I almost fell over because I kept thinking I was voyeuristically watching Charlize, not her character Charlotte, during her personal time—regal as f—k but rapping “The Birthday Song.” 😝😝😝

The supporting actors, June Diane Raphael who played Charlotte’s Chief of Staff Maggie and Ravi Patel who played Tom, were typical and balanced. There were a couple of stand out comedic moments where they shined through.

The soundtrack is phenomenal, which it usually is for Seth Rogen-featured films. Not sure why that is but I’ve been on a Rogen-binge recently (“Zach and Miri Make a Porno, “The 40-Year Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up,” and “Pineapple Express”) and there are songs in each of those movies that I have and will forever associate with just those movies. “Long Shot” is a new addition to the list.

YO! Okay, there’s a sex scene that is super realistic and hilarious. Just…gotta enjoy the uncomfortable realism of a rom-com sometimes. This was one of the film’s best scenes!

Also, they found a way to make Alexander Skarsgård look unattractive. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? Dawg, I left in the theater wanting a custom Seth Rogen Fathead for my wall and imagining a full-blown conversation with my own hippocampus about why I ever thought Skarsgård wasn’t creepy. A testament to his good acting, I guess. 😂😂😂 #hefine 😏

Um, O’Shea Jackson, Junior. Listen, so he did a great job portraying his father in “Straight Outta Compton.” All props, no disrespect. I mean, I’m not sure how hard it was for people to be convinced that he played his dad well, but I need to be honest. Homie is not a great actor. But he’s just starting out, and that’s okay, there’s time for growth. But putting aside the basic P.O.C. sidekick schtick, Jackson, Jr.’s portrayal of this trope drained me. Exhaustingly hyperbolic, not really amusing. Whoever wrote his character, Lance, overused the same “White people be like…” joke, and his character’s dialogue with Fred (Rogen) didn’t match the theme of the film. For example, there was a falling action scene where Fred discusses his failed relationship with Charlotte and somehow they started talking about Lance identifying as a religious, conservative Republican. What?! Why?! Effouttahere! Almost nothing to do with the plot or the scene’s main aim!

Kinda wish the conclusion was wrapped up a little better than it was. This was not an unconventional rom-com where I expected something other than a neatly wrapped gift with a nice red bow, but there was enough content there to diverge from traditional conclusive norms not to do that. I think I’m expecting too much here though lol.