The Long Shot

Man, talk about an unlikely duo...

It's been a while since I've seen a romcom with Venom being the most recent one that comes to mind.

I kid, I kid. Kind of. 

It does feel as if this genre is now mostly reserved for the streaming platforms these days however with Netflix probably having 3-4 significant new ones this year alone. I've not checked them out, but my girlfriend assures me they're "cute". 

I generally enjoy a good romcom, but it's usually dependent on the cast and the subject matter. So naturally one around Charlize Theron as a Presidential candidate dating Seth Rogen is pretty immediately interesting. Especially when you factor in the talent behind the scenes from people like Knocked Up and 40 Year Old Virgin. Throw in the fact that Alamo Draft House Cinemas has a Thanos-inspired milkshake for a limited time only and you've got my girlfriend and I at the matinee theater to check out The Long Shot (oh, and the shake's fantastic). 

The Long Shot is a perfectly acceptable and enjoyable romcom. Truly, this will be a short review from the get go because there's not a whole lot about the Rogen/Theron duo film that is worth going into deep details about. That's definitely not because it's bad; I quite enjoyed my time with it, but it's also rather tame (given those involved and their previous film resume) and isn't quite in the same memorable tier as them. 

I often find it really hard for romcoms to truly be bad. The formula is so tried and true and usually the cast is full of loveable - and attractive - members that it's all stuff you've seen before, the plot is predictable, and hopefully the jokes hit. The Long Shot is a really good example of each of the above being true, without it every being incredibly special, but still being special enough for it to earn and retain a lot of good will. 

Likely them waving bye to the box office since its Endgame weekend #2

For starters, it features a great cast that's held up primarily by Theron and Rogen in an incredibly unlikely but surprisingly effective pairing. Rogen gets most of the jokes, but Theron holds her own in the comedy realm while being able to be the most effective dramatic actor on the set. Their chemistry won't light your world on fire, but it's enough, and feels genuine, that you'll want to see how the story ends up...even if you already know how it will end up because...well...it is a romcom after all. The quite "MVP" of it all is O'Shea Jackson Jr. as Rogen's Fred's best friend who's incredibly upbeat and offers some silly, innocent laughs throughout. He's used sparingly to great effect and even with considerably less screen time, I'd consider him the film's most important asset outside of the lovey duo. 

"You know...we could make a
part for you in Sausage Party II"

Given that Theron is running for President, the film obviously has some political commentary and it's something I sincerely praise it for. First, because it wasn't overbearing on the story itself and the "politics" of our characters really only come into play during a handful of moments. Second, because it's final "statement" - given by O'Shea Jackson no less - essentially encapsulates my current political beliefs in these trying times. Not that he's Republican or Democrat, but because (slight spoiler?) he argues that just because someone is on "the other side", they don't deserve to be demonized by you and your beliefs. What's even more interesting is seeing some of the critic reviews/sentiments for this film and it's political angles completely missed this point and just further proves how divisive and stubborn our political climate has become.

The comedy in The Long Shot is very solid, but never great. I definitely had a considerable number of laughs, but only a handful of truly hearty ones. To its credit, most of the jokes land so it's quality rating is solid, it just seems the quantity was dialed down for this group. There's some really entertaining sequences; it's a Seth Rogen film after all so you know there's a drug trip. It's equally a sweet and romantic film with some of those "cute" moments that earn their right to be semi-cheesy, but never to the point where you'll be rolling your eyes. 

There's a lot of options coming to theaters near you in the month of May, not to mention the potential of seeing Endgame multiple times. The Long Shot tries to earn your dollars with a head-turning pairing of Theron and Rogen coupled with some solid laughs. It mostly delivers and I enjoyed it, but it'll be just as enjoyable streaming someday in the near future too (in case you're saving your movie dollars for...John Wick 3 for example).

CONS

• Follows a lot of common romcom tropes. It's as predictable as I'm sure you're thinking
• A little too long. Doesn't overstay its welcome, just noticeably keeps going
• Never hilarious

PROS

• Theron and Rogen are lots of fun as a pairing. They don't have incredible chemistry but their friendship and attraction seem genuine. Each is so different from the other that they bring special elements to the movie
• May have a somewhat low quantity of jokes, but most land and get a chuckle. A few sequences are highlights
• Doesn't go overboard with political commentary and when it does go there, I found it to be refreshing with its take
• Fun character and performance from O'Shea Jackson Jr. 
• Enjoyable soundtrack
• A good romcom that's a solid combination of humor, cute moments, and two impressive leads

   Rath's Review Score | 7/10