Jon Stewart’s ‘Irresistible’ jumps into the political divide
The satire, starring Steve Carell, skewers a smalltown campaign in the heartland. Review,
It’s been five years since Jon Stewart was a TV staple, gleefully and cleverly eviscerating the American political system. Just imagine the riffing he would have unleashed on the cavalcade of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates or POTUS’ many random tweetstorms.
Fortunately, Stewart’s latest movie, “Irresistible,” proves the comedian’s nuanced relevance hasn’t yet gone to pasture.
Set in the American heartland, the new comedy (★★★☆; rated R; streaming Friday on digital platforms) written and directed by the longtime “Daily Show” host is an insightful satire about partisan divisions, cable news and the influence of money in our elections. It’s also often hysterical, with Steve Carell as a liberal city slicker way out of his comfort zone in rural Wisconsin looking for “a new kind of Democrat.”
Stewart most impresses by hoeing a familiar folksy road before upending expectations, a little Frank Capra crossed with M. Night Shyamalan.
Carell, who was one of Stewart’s “Daily Show” correspondents before becoming a household name, stars as Gary Zimmer, a self-assured Democratic strategist and Clinton family “consigliere” left reeling after the 2016 election of President Donald Trump. When Gary watches viral video of retired Marine Col. Jack Hastings (Chris Cooper) giving a rousing speech standing up for immigrants in the (fictional) small town of Deerlaken, Wisconsin, he sees a potential candidate who “looks conservative, sounds progressive” and, most importantly, could expand the Dems’ national voting base.
Even after studying up on Packers highlights and the Wisconsin Wikipedia page, Gary is almost immediately out of his depth when thrown into a Midwestern way of
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.