By Devan Meyer
Seth Rogen is an actor who has made a career off of being a lovable, irresponsible stoner in movies populated by other lovable, irresponsible stoners. His rotating roster of buddies who appear alongside him, including the likes of James Franco, Danny McBride, and Michael Cera, has been dubbed the “Frat Pack.” Over the years, their movies, from the smash hit teen comedy Superbad to the edgy animated flick Sausage Party, have more or less painted Rogen with the same brush. Yes, with appearances in more dramatic faire like Steve Jobs or the dark satire Observe and Report he’s been able to branch out, yet he had pigeonholed himself so much into the role of the schlubby stoner that it didn’t do much to change his image.
Now comes Long Shot, the latest from director Jonathan Levine (Warm Bodies, The NightBefore), a film which takes the familiar image of Rogen – a temperamental, down-on-his-luckstoner with a penchant for pop culture references named Fred Flarsky – and not only develops it, but subverts it, creating a three-dimensional character that allows Rogen to show off his acting chops without leaving his comfort zone. Accompanying him and almost outshining him is Charlize Theron as the accomplished and refined Presidential-hopeful Charlotte Field, who hires Rogen’s character as her campaign speechwriter after meeting him at a party and recalling how she used to babysit him when she was in high school.
These two actors’ palpable chemistry is the rock upon which this film stands, providing consistent smiles and laughs even during duller moments. But it’s the screenplay by Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah that really makes this film shine. Built upon a rich foundation of pop culture going back to the 70s and 80s up to today, this is a screenplay that provides genuine depth and insight to a film that could have so easily been a brainless lark. What starts out as a simple male fantasy (what if your childhood crush was successful and single and still remembered you?) evolves into a pressing tale about gender politics and politics in general. We see how Field is treated differently on her road to the presidency, people judging her more based on looks, class, and relationship status than the policies she stands by.
We also see how the power dynamics of the couple have an impact on their relationship. Can a man be content with the woman in the relationship being more powerful, and essentially living in her shadow, or will he become jealous? It’s the way the film tackles questions like these, and doing so in such comedic fashion, that elevates it above the standard rom-com. The film makes an effort to mirror the current political landscape, satirizing everything from Fox News to Justin Trudeau. Not everything works, and with the rapid-fire speed that the jokes fly at times, it’s not surprising they can be hit-or-miss. A complication in the third act also feels rather forced and bloats the runtime to an unnecessary two hours. However, with two stars at the height of their powers occupying the lead roles, exhibiting off-the-charts chemistry and spouting dialogue that makes you laugh one second and ponder the next – a few flat bits can be forgiven. It may be a Long Shot, but it will be hard for anyone to come out of this movie without a smile on their face.
Grade: B+