Tanya’s Verdict: Okay*
Rated: 14A
Starring: Kelly, Nanny McPhee, Doogie’s best friend, Mr. Claire Danes
Plot: An aging late night talk show host (Emma Thompson) with low ratings hires a woman of colour (Mindy Kaling) onto her writing staff to shake things up.
Tanya’s Verdict: Disappointment was my main frame of mind about 15 minutes into this movie – when I realized it was never going to go beyond the obvious and surface. Of course, I didn’t expect Late Night to be exactly ground breaking and I figured that Kaling is no Greta Gerwig – but I did expect something funny and perhaps a bit less contrived.
Katherine Newbury (Thompson) is an old, mean broad set in her ways – who just needs a push to embrace social media, appreciate her staff and thus show her true self to the world. Molly Patel (Kaling) is a young(ish) wannabe writer/comedian who simply needs a chance to win over the room full of drab, male writers with her piss and vinegar attitude as well as cupcakes.
The more this movie progressed, the more annoyed I became: Molly crying under her desk? Katherine suddenly realizing that a person on her staff died . . . seven years ago? I’m sure I groaned out loud.
I am a person capable of watching a cute and fluffy movie and enjoying it for what it is. But Late Night‘s stereotypical plot twists and one-dimensional characters really bothered me. This movie goes exactly where you know it will go from the moment the credits open.
*Four score descriptions: Sh**; Okay; Good; Great