A run for office romance
Charlize Theron shows her comedic talent as a presidential candidate who risks derailing her election campaign when she starts to fall for Seth Rogan’s immature speechwriter in a likeable screwball comedy full of sharp observations
CHARLIZE Theron and Seth Rogen attempt to defy the romantic odds in this funny and slick modern spin on the screwball comedy, set in the whirlwind world of a political campaign. The South African actress plays US Secretary of State Charlotte Field, whose globetrotting groundwork for a presidential bid is threatened when she falls for Rogen’s newly-appointed speechwriter Fred Flarsky, and is forced to choose between her ambition and her feelings.
Charlotte was once Fred’s babysitter, and while he reminds her of her lost youthful integrity, her sense of responsibility slowly rubs off on him. One-time Oscar-winner Theron
demonstrates a deft comic touch alongside her emotional range in this glamorous role, which is in stark contrast to her shaven-headed warrior of 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road.
Rogen has to run to keep up with her, but thankfully he’s well practised at playing a petulant man-child who slowly realises his faults – think 2007’s Knocked Up.
Moments of gross-out comedy and drug taking are mixed with political satire and a great running gag about TV stars failing to transition to glorious Hollywood careers, which is especially pointed as there’s a game cameo by former Friends star Lisa Kudrow.
Alongside many nicely judged pop culture references and a 1990s soundtrack, Kudrow’s presence adds nostalgic appeal for a middle-aged audience.
More seriously it attacks the hypocritical prudishness of the US media to the sex lives of politicians, touches on the limitations of the dating game for women of a certain age and status, and flags up the higher expectations and double standards placed upon them in the public eye.
However, director Jonathan Levine treats these issues as extras and keeps the pace brisk and the tone comic, even as the wheels of romance fall off the passion wagon in time-honoured movie tradition.