[Header Image: Lionsgate]
“It’s ‘Pretty Woman’, but she’s Richard Gere and you’re Julia Roberts.”
This post contains minor spoilers.
I can’t express how happy I am that Long Shot was the first movie I watched in 2020 because I had the best time with it. Ever since the first trailer dropped, I was intrigued and I’m pleased to say that it didn’t disappoint.
I’ve been a fan of Charlize Theron for such a long time so that instantly grabbed my attention but then the movie seemed genuinely hilarious and interesting. As for Seth Rogen, I’ve seen him in a few other movies and shows he’s been involved in over the years but I have to admit, I’m not as well acquainted with him. That being said, I was definitely intrigued to see both of them on screen together. And I have to say, I adored watching them and I would love to see them act together again in the future.
At the very least, I want to see her do more comedy stuff and to see him in more lead roles like this one. I feel like Long Shot could have gone over the top with tropes and stereotypes but it managed to avoid that. Seth Rogen’s character, Fred Flarsky, is flawed for sure and experiences a ton of hurdles along the way. With Charlize Theron’s Charlotte Field being a little out of his league, Long Shot could have easily fallen into Fred feeling undervalued and as if he needs to bring Charlotte down a peg or two because he feels inferior. I will say, that doesn’t happen. Instead, there’s a fairly good balance throughout the movie that shows the highs and lows of these characters, both together and separately.
The overall pacing of Long Shot was a little off and there were some areas of the story that didn’t get as much care and attention as they should have but ultimately, it didn’t take away from the overall movie and I genuinely had the best time watching it. It’s got some great comedy, the kind that had me laughing out loud so many times, and the romance feel genuine and is super lovely to watch. There’s a good build-up that allows you to become invested in both characters and their journey together.
Don’t get me wrong, Long Shot is completely absurd in so many ways but it also doesn’t shy away from that. One of the best things about this movie is that it understands how ridiculous it is at times and just runs with it at full force. It is unapologetic and while some areas of the story were underdeveloped, it still creates a movie that is enjoyable and downright wonderful to watch.
Rating: ★★★★ /5
wonderoes 