Technical assessment: 2.5
Moral assessment: 2.5
CINEMA rating: V16
MTRCB rating: R13
Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) is an uncompromising journalist in a
progressive newspaper. So uncompromising that he quits his job
when an abominable media mogul with questionable ethics
takes over the paper. His friend takes him to a party
to cheer him up. There he chances upon Charlotte Fields
(Charlize Theron), now state secretary and future presidential
candidate, but in the past was, in fact,
his babysitter. Fields hires Flarsky as her speechwriter. On the campaign trail, they
fall in love. But Charlotte’s stand
on the environment threatens the business interest of the
current president—who by the way isn’t running for reelection because he’s
going back to the movies—and his cohorts, including the media mogul who
blackmails Charlotte by releasing a video that will
compromise Fred’s reputation if she doesn’t soften
her stand on climate change mitigation. In the end, she follows
her convictions, becomes the first female president of
the United States, and Fred the first gentleman.
Though not her best, Theron’s acting gets us on her
side. But where’s the romance, where’s the chemistry between her and
Rogen? Raunchy yes, but romantic, no. Whatever sweet
reverie the story ushers us into is quickly doused by bawdy
language and coarse bed scenes. The camera does not attempt to
create a starry mood at all. Which perhaps is intentional, as an
allusion to the muck in politics. Long Shot wades
into themes of ecology and women empowerment, but loses its
way because it can’t decide whether to dissect Charlotte’s uphill battle to
create a seat on the table that’s dominated by men or
to portray her as an unlikely pair to Fred whose priority
is obviously not to match her glamour.
While it is good that parts of the film try to
challenge women stereotypes, it fails to make a convincing case
because it is constrained by the rom-com formula. Its potentially good
premise is drowned in the plot. One good thing in Long Shot, though, is that in the end, Charlotte stands up for her
cause and does not allow herself to be manipulated by people in
power and by her ambitions. But here’s a subtlety that a
less vigilant audience may miss. There’s substance abuse in the
movie that peels off Charlotte’s inhibitions so that
she succeeds in negotiating the release of hostages. There’s also
premarital sex between Charlotte and Fred.
Championing cause for the environment while polluting the environment of
the temple of the Holy Spirit through drug abuse and illicit sex? A no-no for Catholics. At the risk of extrapolating too much, CINEMA
dares say: integrity and honesty should be integral in
the character of everyone, especially those who wield power
or wish to serve the people and promote the common good.—MOE
Director: Jonathan Levine Lead Cast: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen,
June Diane Raphael, O'Shea Jackson Jr.
Screenwriters: Dan Sterling, Liz Hannah Producers: A.J. Dix, Evan
Goldberg, Beth Kono, Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, James Weaver Editors:
Melissa Bretherton, Evan Henke Musical Directors: Marco Beltrami, Miles
Hankins Cinematographer: Yves Bélanger
Genre: Romantic Comedy Distributor:
Pioneer Films Location: Canada, Colombia Running Time: 120 minutes
