If you're in the mood to raise objections, you'll find plenty of opportunities in "Long Shot." Starring Charlize Theron as an elegant presidential candidate who begins sleeping with her slovenly speechwriter (Seth Rogen), the film is filled with imbalances and double standards.
Is it cool that Hollywood has once again paired an average-looking male with a classically beautiful female? Or that the film has no qualms about a boss sleeping with an underling? If the gender roles were reversed, would this film have gotten made?
The answer on all counts is no, but "Long Shot" manages to succeed anyway. It's a charming little movie with two endearing leads and just the right mix of raunchy humor and tenderness. With a little more ambition, it might have tackled any number of ticklish subjects: gender roles, changing expectations, simmering resentments. Instead, director Jonathan Levine ("Warm Bodies") goes for a pleasantly old-fashioned vibe, somewhere between classic screwball and '90s-era romance.
