Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) and long-time friend, Lance (O'Shea Jackson Jr.) spend a day goofing around after Fred quits his job. © 2019 Summit Entertainment. |
Ironically enough, we are introduced to Rogen's Flarsky as he is infiltrating a gathering of white supremacists and while most people who go see and spend money on a Seth Rogen movie are aware of the facts the guy is both Canadian and Jewish this is only afforded more comedic value by Rogen's inability to commit to the actions and proclamations that are being made in this meeting where he is acting as an investigative journalist. After miraculously escaping this assignment, Flarsky learns from his editor (the always reliable Randall Park) that his renegade online publication has been bought by a rich media tycoon who uses his influence to seemingly persuade the culture to think as he wants them to in what is very clearly a jab at Roger Ailes and the Fox news network. In refusing to work for this man, Flarsky defiantly quits his job and immediately call on longtime friend, Lance (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), to help keep him out of a funk after realizing he has no income. Jackson, who is clearly some kind of successful wall street trader or broker of some sort is conveniently able to leave work at a moments notice and grant his pal a day full of fun and leisurely activities that end on a party that might also be a perk of Lance's job that is an elite dinner of some sort, sure, but they're there only to see Boyz II Men perform. It is as these friends are enjoying the harmonies of the dynamic trio that is Nate, Shawn, and Wanya that Flarsky realizes his former babysitter and the current Secretary of State for the United States, Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), is also present at the event.
Flarsky always had a crush on Field as a young boy even working up the courage to make a move at one point, but the two very clearly haven't seen one another in many years and Lance naturally can't help but to think of the timing of this reunion as something akin to fate. Surprising to Flarsky, but no one who's seen a rom-com before, Field recognizes Flarsky and the two re-connect, she quickly coming to realize the situation her old friend was in as she too is not a fan that aforementioned media mogul, Parker Wembley (Andy Serkis), who she has had to avoid on multiple occasions. In light of these revelations and the rekindling of their knowledge that the other exists as well as taking into consideration that the current sitting President (a hilarious Bob Odenkirk) will be endorsing Field for the next Presidential run, Field is in desperate need of a speech writer and who better to write for her than someone who knew her as a young child and just so happens to also be a funny, effective journalist. Flarsky is promptly recruited by Field's supportive, but merciless team of campaign managers featuring June Diane Raphael and Ravi Patel as the four of them then essentially go on a world tour to ramp up support from ally countries for an environment plan she is hoping to stake her campaign on with deeper feelings naturally developing along the way.
Through an unsuspected re-connection Fred becomes a speech writer for Presidential front-runner Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) in Long Shot. © 2019 Summit Entertainment. |
As it is, Flarsky's personality is key this relationship working as he has a very strict code of ethics that he upholds himself to thus the reason he won't allow himself to work for someone like Wembley. Even when he's down on his luck with no work and despite the fact he more or less already loves Theron's character he still questions the intent of Field and if working for her and championing the change she wants would align with his beliefs. There's something to be said for this confidence in one's own values-especially when they're filled with more honor than hate-and in any other rom-com this role would go to the pure, assured female lead who would have to lend her confidence to the man she's fallen for in order to show him how to achieve something more public-facing he's been dealing with-most likely have to do with his career. In Long Shot, Theron is beyond intelligent, beyond beautiful, but also completely in the public eye. It is her career that matters, her persona that is more fragile, and her life that is arguably more important at least in terms of the change being effected by her existence. And so, as much as Field is confident in her ability to do her job and win her election, Flarsky serves this role of reminding Field why she does this job in the first place, what she's always stood for, and how the whole "remaining true to yourself" deal really works best when you feel you have to play the game to get ahead. In essence, these are his grand romantic gestures, this is his way of singing through the stadium PA system and dancing in the bleachers. To the movies credit as well is the fact it doesn't reduce Field to a stressed-out, prude of a control freak who loses sight of her real drive only to replace it with power. No, Theron's Field is a motivated woman who seems to know what she wants in every facet of her life except for her love life; she is the celebrity who finds love in the unsuspecting average joe and this is the closest parallel you'll ever be able to draw between Rogen and Hugh Grant. It also doesn't hurt that Theron is genuinely funny in the role absolutely demolishing every stereotype a woman in her position is expected to succumb to while simply acknowledging those that she does and going with it. Long Shot, as a piece of filmmaking, isn't necessarily an accomplishment in terms of craft, but it is a triumph in terms of blending multiple ideas together and streamlining them into both an enlightening and entertaining piece of storytelling...and that's the kind of marriage you can bet will leave a lasting impression.
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