'Late Night' May Be Predictable, But That Doesn't Discount Its Joy
Starring Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, John LIthgow, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott
Rated R
Comedy, Drama
Run time: 1 hr, 42 min
Directed by Nisha Ganatra
In theaters June 7, 2019
Right off the bat, Emma Thompson basically being Emma Thompson is enough to get me into any movie theater seat. When you combine her with Mindy Kaling’s writing, a wardrobe that doesn’t quit and an impressive supporting cast, you get an extremely fun almost-two-hours in the theaters. You don’t see this movie because you expect it to completely renovate the film experience. It’s predictable, sure, but in the way of a romantic comedy - but in this case, it’s a bromance, not a romance, and it’s better written than many comedies that hit the screen.
Kaling stars as a young woman who takes a job on a late night talk show hosted by Katherine Newbury, a woman who prefers how it’s always been to how it’s turning out to be (Thompson). She’s brought in - at first - solely as a diversity hire, but quickly proves to bring a new and much-needed perspective to the all white (and all male) writer’s room. While she tries to find her footing, Katherine has to figure out how to remain relevant and keep a hold on the show she has grown to care about more than anything else outside of her marriage.
The dialogue of this movie is the high point, combining the incredible comedic timings of both Thompson and Kaling to great effect. However, in between some truly laugh-out-loud moments, often due to an eyeroll and perfectly timed remark from Thompson, there are some solid emotional beats that help propel the story forward. A few moments are rather predictable, sure, but they hit the beats well thanks to the solid writing. There’s an added element of emotion when Katherine’s relationship with her ill husband is introduced, and it works well to create layers in this character who could have been extremely one-dimensional. One plot point at the very end - which is minor in the grand scheme of things - rubbed me the wrong way a bit, but it’s small enough that I’m able to enjoy the film as is.
Part of me is extremely disheartened that this movie is coming out around the time of big summer blockbusters, as I think it could have stood a better chance of being seen by more people during the off times of early spring or mid fall. Even if you’re a fan of the superheroes and action movies, take a moment to soak in some truly hilarious writing in a comedy that isn’t seen too often. As a movie with so many women at the helm, it’s a breath of fresh air, one that will have you giggling on your way out of the theater.