This is an intelligent, perceptive and occasionally suspenseful comedy that manages to make several points about politics and journalism without pandering to any perspective, while never forgetting to prioritize the humor. Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen make an impressively engaging pair despite their disparate approaches to acting – while Rogen typically excels at variations of the same lovable slacker, Theron instead expertly diversifies across genres quite often. Together, they’re perfectly cast in their respective roles and their chemistry is strong enough to make the central romance believable without overwhelming the narrative arcs of both characters. It’s perhaps a little on the long side and the second half is much better than the first, but by the time it finds its footing it solidifies into a dramatically compelling dual character study masquerading as a big studio romantic comedy. There’s a scene in the middle that’s too goofy by far (the one involving Ecstasy and a tense negotiation), but it successfully opens up the characters to the audience and makes them more palatable, so it evens out.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
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