Late Night Review: Emma Thompson Shines In Topical Workplace Dramedy
- naterichard98
- Jul 20, 2019
- 2 min read
DIRECTED BY: NISHA GANATRA
STARRING: EMMA THOMPSON, MINDY KALING, & JOHN LITHGOW
RATED R FOR LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT AND SOME SEXUAL REFERENCES
LENGTH: 102 MINUTES
The workplace comedy is something audiences have seen time and time again. Whether it be on television with beloved shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation or on the big-screen with films like Office Space and The Devil Wears Prada, they won the hearts of the public who could relate to the film's portrayal of the work environment. Today the country is stepping into a new era, one where offices are becoming more diverse, where inappropriate behavior is called out and addressed, and one where people have to own up to their wrongdoings. So it seems appropriate that there would be a workplace comedy addressing the issues involving gender and race in the workplace.
In steps Late Night, a comedy written and starring Mindy Kaling, that follows Molly Patel (Kaling), a woman with no writing experience who is brought into the all white male writer's room of female talk show host Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson). While initially not taken seriously and passed off as just a 'diversity hire', Molly starts to share her ideas that may be able to save Katherine's show from cancellation.
Emma Thompson easily gives her best performance since Saving Mr. Banks. She not only delivers on the comedy, but she is really able to excel in the film's more dramatic scenes as well. Her chemistry with Kaling is fantastic and the two's dynamic is one of the best of 2019. The supporting cast is also very strong here with some great turns here from Reid Scott, John Lithgow, Denis O'Hare, and Ike Barinholtz.
Despite focusing on a topic that could easily turn-heads, Late Night is able to speak on its themes in a way that speaks to all audience members that ultimately leaves a lasting impression even after walking out of the theater. The film also has does a commendable job of being able to balance the comedy with the drama without ever feeling confused or jumbled.
Though the film never ultimately feels like it's doing anything new and it may feel a bit too breezy to some audience members, Nisha Ganatra's direction certainly does a great job with making the movie flow at a quick and entertaining pace. Nothing on the technical side of things really sticks out, though for a dramedy such as this it isn't too big of a problem.
Late Night is able to deliver on providing enough humor, commentary, and entertainment value to completely justify a watch. It's a film that feels as if it has gone way too under the radar and hopefully gets more eyes once it hits Amazon Prime.
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