Long Shot

“Long Shot” is about the compromises we tolerate, where we sell out, and ultimately when we take a stand.

Photo credit: Shutterstock, modified

By Jon Ochiai

Brilliantly hysterical Charlize Theron’s Secretary of State Charlotte Field crouches in the basement under terrorist siege with her speech writer Fred Flarsky, who’s been in love with her since he was 12 years-old. Charlotte instructs Fred in the Navy SEALS calming technique: taking deep breaths in 4 seconds intervals. Charlotte counts, “One. Two. Three. Four.” Fred follows her lead. It works. So does Director Jonathan Levine’s “Long Shot” as a whole.

At times, Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah’s screenplay is politically clichéd and ‘in your face’ raunch. “Long Shot” is about the compromises we tolerate, where we sell out, and ultimately when we take a stand. That made me laugh out loud and touched my heart.

Charlize plays Secretary of State Charlotte Fields, the strikingly beautiful and smart protégé of hilariously irrelevant President Chambers, played by Bob Odenkirk. The President, the former TV Actor, informs Charlotte that he will not seek a second Presidential term so that he can pursue his movie acting career. WTF? According to Dan and Liz’s narrative, only two TV actors have ever made that transition: George Clooney and Woody Harrelson. “Not Jennifer Aniston.” Too funny.

Clearly, the Secretary of State persona is a loose homage to Hilary Clinton. Very loose. Charlotte is about to embark on her global trip to enroll countries in her environmental treaty, what she dreamed of back when she was 16 years-old. The President will endorse Charlotte in her run for the White House. Yeah.

Image consultant Katherine played by goofy wit Lisa Kudrow tells Charlotte and her Campaign Manager Maggie, played by hilariously duplicitous June Diane Raphael, that Charlotte polls over 90% in all appeal metrics, except relatability. Even her lame hand wave needs a makeover. Charlotte actually reads synopses for “Game of Thrones” instead of actually watching episodes. OMG. So Charlotte needs a speechwriter to humanize her persona, i.e. loosen her up.

Seth Rogen plays Fred, the slovenly tapered cargo pants wearing renegade journalist for the “Brooklyn Advocate”. However, when the “Advocate”…