Film Review - Late Night

Mindy Kalig, wrote, produced and stars in Late Night directed by Nisha Ganatra. Kalig drew from her experiences on The Office for elements of the feature. Emma Thompson plays Katherine Newbury who has been the host of her Late Night Talk Show Tonight for 28 years. She has lasted through 6 network Presidents spanning from the Leno - Letterman era into the Fallon, Seth Myers (Who appears in the film) one. However, her show has been falling in popularity over the last 10 years. Newbury not wanting to keep up with the shifting landscape of man on the street or joint acts with guests in the studio. She would rather remain glued to her desk talking to academics instead of edgy comics or YouTube stars. Plus new network President Amy Ryan is looking to replace her with foul -mouthed comedian Daniel Tennant (Ike Barinholtz)

Kalig is Molly Patel, a single unattached chemical plant worker from Pennsylvania who works a meeting with the head of a parent company of Tonight into an interview for a writing position on the Show. She's hired, right away to questioning elements of the production working her way into the prestigious role of co-monologue writer alongside turf protecting Tom Campbell (Reid Scott) of Veep fame.

Kalig's writing rings authentic to the female experience in a male dominated industry. When she first comes into the writers' room she's automatically viewed as a P.A. with gopher tasks hurled her way. The male writers use the women's washroom to go number 2 even after she is working there since as Molly is told there has not been a female on the writing staff since forever.

The central relationship of the film is between Thompson and Kalig. Molly points out the disconnect on the show in the Quality Control analyst style she knows from the plant. The Legendary host knows that Molly is right but would rather lash out than take the constructive criticism. Her Professor Emeritus husband Walter Lovell (John Lithgow) in failing health is her whole family but she needs Molly personally and professionally to challenger her making her better.

Late Show is an entertaining, funny production that allows Emma Thompson to exercise her sharp comedic wit. Molly calls it casual cruelty that cuts deep because she does not care and is not interested; referring to her writers by number instead of by name. Although the audience will likely know where the film will end up there are a few ambiguous moments to give the viewer pause as they make their way out of the theater.

*** 1/2 Out of 4.

Late Night | Nisha Ganatra | U.S.A. | 2019 | 102 Minutes.

Tags: Late Night Talk Show, Talk Show Host, Writers Room, Diversity Hire, Boys Club, New York, Stand Up Comic, Parkinson, Chemical Plant, Factory, Pennsylvania.