USA TODAY International Edition
Irresistible
life, though he takes a shine to the hardworking, quiet ex- military man and cow farmer.
“Democrats are getting their ( butt) kicked because guys like me can’t talk to guys like you,” the D. C. power player tells Jack. Gary promises to run Jack’s campaign for mayor of Deerlaken, Jack makes national headlines, and chilly Republican strategist Faith Brewster ( Rose Byrne), Gary’s archrival, shows up to help the GOP incumbent ( Brent Sexton) and sparks a heated competition for donations.
Like a modern- day Jimmy Stewart, Cooper’s mix of down- home demeanor and internal fire makes him the perfect deliveryman of Stewart’s message, which even on “The Daily Show” was people over partisanship. ( Jack Hastings is working with tons of pop- culture electability here – like Martin Sheen in “The West Wing” levels.) Both Cooper and Mackenzie Davis ( as Jack’s bright daughter Diana) are subtle foils for Gary’s character as he learns to respect Midwestern gumption ( and baked goods), while the friction between Gary and Faith seems forced at times. As a fact- twisting, right- wing persona, however, Byrne is aces.
Earlier this year, “The Hunt” took on red state vs. blue state conflict with ultraviolence, but Stewart is more successful mining similar themes by balancing the respect of individual beliefs with the over- the- top kookiness of our political process.
Some of “Irresistible” seems uncannily prescient – Gary suggests that maybe Trump “can be president of the Confederacy” in a scene that seems clairvoyantly reflective of the president’s recent defense of statues named for Civil War generals – not to mention the inmovie campaign ads and videos that ground the film in reality. Stewart even goes so far as to slyly find a way to fact check his movie.
“Irresistible” lives up to its title with an enchanting twist on a well- trod narrative and thankfully brings back the gifted satirical mind that our crazy world has sorely missed.