Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Jonathan Levine, Lionsgate & StudioCanal, M 125 Minutes.
In his latest film release, Seth Rogen (‘Steve Jobs’) the irrepressible funnyman of many movies, returns to play the flustered journalist Fred Flarsky in an entertaining romantic comedy involving the US Secretary of State, Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron –‘Tully’).
The fanciful storyline from ‘Snatched’ director Jonathan Levine begins with the dishevelled and erratic Fred suddenly leaving his job with a left-leaning newspaper before being enticed to attend a swanky event at which he meets the charming Charlotte.
As shown in some flashback scenes, Fred had a childhood crush on Charlotte while she was his babysitter and his fantasy is revived following his reunion at the function where she receives considerable praise for her international role.
When President Chambers (Bob Odenkirk –‘The Post’) tells Charlotte he is stepping down at the end of his term she immediately decides to stand for the Presidency having secured his endorsement ahead of hiring Fred as her speechwriter.
Despite the displeasure to Fred’s appointment by her closest advisers Maggie (June Diane Raphael –‘Blockers’) and Tom (Ravi Patel –‘Band Aid’), Charlotte’s foremost focus is to finalise the deal on her pet environmental project prior to announcing her candidacy.
As an intimate relationship develops between the shabbily-dressed speechwriter and the star politician so does the concern of prominent powerbroker and media mogul Parker Wembley (Andy Serkis –‘Black Panther’), intent on wrecking Charlotte’s environmental plan connecting 100 countries.
The crunch comes after a disagreement with Fred as Charlotte considers whether her personal relationship and propriety are more important in the overall scheme of things than her presidential ambition which ultimately leads to the amusing conclusion.
Levine has made an enjoyable romantic comedy against a political backdrop involving a reprehensible journalist and a politician in a prestigious position regardless of Rogen’s rude and unpleasant behaviour in certain scenes.
The reality is further stretched when Charlotte falls for Fred as media tycoon Parker pulls out all stops to thwart her ambition to become President over her issue of achieving global climate change.
Not much more can be said of Rogen’s portrayal as the gross journalist but certainly Theron turns in a particularly sparkling performance filled with charm and grace that can be easily attributable to a Secretary of State.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 ½ Stars
