Calling All Adults

If you're a lover of romantic comedy, and you've been complaining about the dearth of rom-coms that have the sophistication, the wordplay and banter, and the substantive subject matter - let alone the laughs - that harken back to the genre's golden age, now is the time for you to do the equivalent of showing up at the ballot box for the next election: Go to your local theater and see Long Shot.

I suggest this not because Long Shot is the best romantic comedy ever (it's not), but because it's funny, it's smart, and it's precisely the kind of Romantic Comedy for Adults that's the hardest to get made these days; already in danger of being crushed by the usual box office heavy-hitters (Marvel, etc.) despite good reviews, this movie could use your support.

I can guess your reservations: Yet again with the Shlubby Guy Wins Gorgeous Babe shtick?! I had the same misgivings. But whether or not you can embrace Seth Rogen (who's quite good here, with a thoroughly convincing variation on his usual themes), Long Shot features Charlize Theron at her brilliant best, doing the sort of cannily downplayed comedic turn that recalls Old School screwball heroines like Jean Arthur and Barbara Stanwyck in their heyday.

Long Shot also offers - for those brave souls involved in the increasingly difficult job of writing a romantic comedy - an object lesson in how to create a credible hookup between two extremely unlikely mates-to-be. Minor contrivances aside, screenwriters Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah have done a bangup job of convincing us that the Secretary of State and speechwriting journalist played by Theron and Rogen not only could, but should end up together, and that's no small feat.

Additionally, the movie doesn't merely ask the usual supporting cast suspects to do their usual. Some relatively unfamiliar faces (including O'Shea Jackson Jr. and June Day Raphael) and one "why doesn't she get more work like this?" old favorite (Lisa Kudrow) enliven a show that's replete with great throwaway lines and purely visual reaction shots, under the capable direction of Jonathan Levine (of 50/50 and the underrated Warm Bodies). Yes, there are post-Apatow gross-out gags, but the amount of LOL Jokes For Thinking Folks is unusually high. 

Finally, this is a romantic comedy that's about something, and it's unafraid to embrace a clear political stance, recalling the sort of comedies that Frank Capra used to make. I don't want to oversell the thing, but as my colleague Manohla Dargis puts it in her worth-the-read NY Times review, “Long Shot isn’t going to save the romantic comedy, but it’s an adrenaline shot of pure pleasure to the genre’s failing heart." What she said, say I: Go see this before it goes away, so that maybe more of these kinds of movies can follow its lead.

Comments

[Lily]

I saw it on Monday night and couldn’t agree more! I really enjoyed it and thought the leads had credible chemistry and the supporting characters had real depth. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves too, which always helps. It is also the best contemporary example of a successful two-gander Rom com I can think of. Gave me lots of ideas for how to progress my 40+ Rom com screenplay.

[mernitman]

Hi Lily: Love the point you make about "everyone seemed to enjoy themselves," as that's the kind of ephemeral but important "x" factor that can make all the difference in a movie's appeal; you can feel the good feeling implicit in Long Shot, and it does help. And it's cool that the movie generated ideas for you (I love it when that happens). Best of luck with your project!

[Elizabeth Kerri Mahon]

I saw the movie last Sunday and I have to say that I enjoyed most of it. Mainly the relationship between Fred and Charlotte. I thought that Seth Rogen & Charlize Theron had genuine chemistry, and the characters seemed to really enjoy each others company. I also thought part of the reason that it works it that their characters have history, even though they haven't seen each other in over 20 years.

[mernitman]

Hi Elizabeth! Agreed. The chemistry and the genuine fun they appear to be having goes a long way, in shoring up the credibility of their personal history - which really is presented effectively as the anchor of their relationship.