Checked out the new workplace-like comedy Late Night. The film was written by Mindy Kaling (who also stars, along side Emma Thompson).
The film is about an aging and slightly out-of-touch late night talk show host (played by Emma Thompson) who is fighting to keep herself on the air (and relevant). She hires basically the first woman who applies for a new writing job (Kaling) in an attempt to liven up her worn-out group of young(ish) bored white overly-educated writers. Bring in a new tone… maybe even *gasp* some social media and YouTube content!
This is basically a work-place comedy where the boss is kind of a Miranda Priestly (Devil Wars Prada) type. Kaling has to fight for respect in a job where she doesn’t have any real comedy writing experience. As the only (Indian-American) women in the writer’s room, the men have to adjust quickly (like not using the unused lady’s room for smelly #2s). For their part, they don’t care how woke she is or how she think they’re privileged… they just want her to shut up and write (don’t tell us what we’re doing wrong, do what you do right).
Emma Thompson as the host of the show is quite good… though I don’t think she ever really manages to hit the boss-from-hell angle they were going for. Probably because Emma Thompson is such a warm, friendly person that I didn’t quite buy her snark being overly viscus. Which is a slight problem… but the movie is just kind of a slight movie so it’s all in good-natured fun.
Which, hey, the movie is low key enjoyable. Not great… and the jokes generally don’t exactly fall flat but they don’t excel either. It’s a fun, slight little flick that seems to know what it’s talking about in the late night game (as far as I can tell) but it never really achieves too much. Not boring though. There’s that.
So… yeah… you can tell this is a strong recommendation, amiright?!!? Nah… the movie’s fine. If you like the two leading ladies or have a yen for late night talk show drama, maybe this is one you could check out. It’s… well… it’s pretty good.
Score: 79