By Robert Yaniz Jr.

This aptly named comedy defies the odds to deliver the best political love story since The American President.

THE HYPE

With rare exception, Seth Rogen films are the kind of pot-fueled “dick pics” that consistently appeal to adolescent and adolescent-minded men but rarely expand beyond that. To that end, the promise of seeing Rogen as a romantic lead opposite Oscar winner Charlize Theron was beyond tantalizing. Throw in the fact that Long Shot reunites Rogen with his 50/50 and The Night Before director Jonathan Levine, and you just might have a recipe for something special.

THE STORY

The odd coupling at the center of the film may not stray from the “sloppy guy/beautiful woman” cliche that has plagued so much of modern romantic storytelling. However, Long Shot has a lot more to offer than it seems. Sure, there’s the requisite montage in which Rogen and his co-star do drugs and reckon with the subsequent high. But the film also has a lot more heart than you’d expect. As a hot-tempered journalist and stoic presidential hopeful, Rogen and Theron, respectively, create a real connection between their characters. Even better, the script — written by Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah — leverages the political setting to make some salient points about the divisive world in which we currently live.

THE CAST

You get the sense that Rogen and Theron (both of whom serve as producers here) are infusing their characters with more than a little of their own personalities. Perhaps that’s why they feel so at home in Long Shot. Both roles play 100% to the strengths of these two actors, allowing them to propel the story forward without sacrificing their specific arcs. O’Shea Jackson Jr., in particular, lends fine support as Rogen’s supportive best friend and lands some of the best moments in the film. Dealing with limited screen time, Bob Odenkirk makes for a hilarious POTUS, and Andy Serkis pops up for some reason in prosthetics as a blatant Rupert Murdoch type.

THE PRODUCTION

In both his previous collaborations with Rogen, Levine has found a way to take his characters to incredibly silly places without ever losing focus on what makes the characters relatable and compelling. With Long Shot, he takes shots at politics, the media, gender norms and the like while creating a heartfelt tale of two people lost in their careers (and egos). The central couple meets in the middle to become more authentic versions of themselves. While Long Shot is well-shot, the balance of tones from drug trip to awkward sex scene to affecting romance makes the film one of  Levine’s most accomplished works yet.

THE VERDICT

Right now, major studio comedies are dying out, in part due to a lack of interest from audiences but also due to an absence of quality storytelling geared toward laughs. Remarkably, Long Shot emerges as one of the best films of its kind in years. Featuring two stars at the top of their game and an endearing and hilarious tale of two souls who find belonging in each other, the film is an easy charmer and among the best comedies of 2019. Much like the love story it depicts, who would have imagined that Long Shot would work?

Long Shot stars Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, June Diane Raphael, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Ravi Patel, Bob Odenkirk and Andy Serkis and is directed by Jonathan Levine.