Movie Review - Bible Based: Long Shot

This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.

Swamp the Drain

Plot Overview

female patriot President Chambers (Bob Odenkirk) confides to his Secretary of State Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), “I will not be seeking reelection.” To cement his legacy, though, he promises her his endorsement to become the first Mlle President of the United States. On a promotional tour, when the chemistry heats up between Charlotte and her speech writer, yellow journalist Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogan,) it looks like she may become the first Madame President, if she becomes President at all, which is doubtful, because the two don't have “good optics” together.

Ideology

The catalyst of the connection is Fred's longtime friend Lance (O'Shea Jackson Jr.) who brings Fred to a gala to cheer him up after he quit his journalism job with the “Brooklyn Advocate.” Charlotte was there, too, who had a past connection with Fred (“I kinda know her,”) and she needed a speech writer. Lance remarks on how “bright” the party was (“Bright is White”), the only black people being himself, the musicians, and the waiters. Somehow, Flarsky steps into the racism bit without meaning to (“That's racist as sh_t”), and to encourage Fred to be more open minded, his friend Lance comes out to him about his political affiliation, bringing Fred up short (“I'm a racist. You're a Republican. I don't know what is wrong with me.”) There follows a brief but serious discussion about Lance's past encouragement to Fred to be more self-reliant, being a Republican ideal, though in actuality it's an American ideal proper. That leads to a further revelation from Lance, “I'm a man of Christian faith.” The movie itself illustrates various aspects of American liberty which answer to the freedoms of Christianity.

Paul in 1st Corinthians allowed various connections between a Christian and the world. There are seven I shall list:

We are allowed to have things in the world, and to acquire new things. (1Cor. 3:21-22) “For all things are yours; Whether … the world, … or things present, or things to come; all are your's.” Fred and Charlotte went on a worldwide tour, and there was always the possibility that more stops needed to be added to their itinerary.
Paul tells us (1Cor. 5:9-10) that we Christians may associate with character-flawed non-Christians; it is the professing Christians who not meeting certain standards, like “covetousness.” whom we are to remain aloof from (1Cor. 5:11-13.) Lance's employee who was taking home some of the communal bagels would if he were claiming to be Christian earn himself this censure.
That a Christian may maintain a marriage to a non-christian (1Cor. 7:12-17) so long as the unbeliever is willing. A widow, like any Christian, may choose whomever she wants for a mate (as long as he is willing and able) according to her liberty “in the Lord” (1Cor. 7:39-40.) That's pretty much an American ideal promoted by this movie, as well.
(1Cor. 7:29-31) “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that … they that use this world, not abuse it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” In the movie they are promoting a Global Rehabilitation Initiative to save the environment (“Bees, trees & the seas.”)
That we can compromise with the heathen in the workplace—Criswell Study Bible preface to First Corinthians states: “Some Christians needed to know whether or not they should attend the meetings of their trade guild, meetings held in the idol temples and involving meat offered to the idols (1Cor. 8:4-13)”—as long as we're doing it in faith and not stumbling someone. Fred had to go undercover in his journalism job to infiltrate a White Pride “(F_ck the Jews!”) group whose members all received swastika tattoos.
That we can participate in the marketplace (1Cor. 10:25-26.) Fred needed Charlotte's aide Maggie Millikin (June Diane Rafael) to purchase “grown up clothes” for him in Stockholm.
And in entertainment (1Cor. 10:27-28) for the same reason, and as long as we don't ask too many questions. Here they all liked the musicians, Boys to Men.

In 2nd Corinthians Paul does ask the Corinthians the rhetorical question, (2Cor. 6:15) “what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” Webster defines, “infidel: one who is not a Christian or who opposes Christianity.” The Corinthians have a complete number of seven ready examples at hand due to their allowed associations. It's these mismatches that impress on their minds the incompatibility of mixed composition, so that, say, we should not establish a “Voodoo Church of Christ.” The two are not going to mix well. Paul thus concludes telling Christians: (2Cor. 6:14) “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: ...” Note the plural pronoun ye. Webster defines, “ye pron you 1 — used orig. only as a plural pronoun of the second person in the subjective case and now used esp. in ecclesiastical or literary language and in various English dialects.” Paul's admonition is, (2Cor. 6:17) “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.” We are forbidden to integrate heathen practices into our church in the aggregate, though as individual believers we are allowed to rub shoulders with unbelievers in various aspects so long as we remain aloof from their idolatry or whatever. In the movie Charlotte had once lost in her election bid for the high school student council to a boy who promised two proms, back to back. These proms could be exclusive to such and such a high school class as is Christian church membership exclusive to born again believers, but as individuals we may mingle further abroad by American liberty in the movie and Christian freedom in our practice.

Production Values

“” (2019) was directed by Jonathan Levine. Its screenplay was written by Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah. It stars Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen, and June Diane Raphael. Theron worked wonders playing an up-and-coming political figure using her feminine wiles to succeed in a man's world. Rogan was his usual bumbling self. O'Shea Jackson Jr (Ice Cube's son) was great as Fred's best friend. Bob Odenkirk played a President who once was an actor who played the president. He played a playful role with playfulness. The supporting actors all did well.

MPAA rated it R for strong sexual content, language throughout and some drug use. The soundtrack rocked. Of note is the excellent cinematography by Yves Bélanger. It's 125 minutes long but it goes by fast. It was filmed in Montreal, Québec, Canada with some of its humor at Canada's expense.

Review Conclusion w/ Christian Recommendation

I thought it was hilarious, with good chemistry between the leads and a delivery that was always fresh. In its own subtle way it's very patriotic. There's a lot to recommend it.

Movie Ratings

Action factor: Decent action scenes. Suitability For Children: Not Suitable for Children of Any Age. Special effects: Average special effects. Video Occasion: Good Date Movie. Suspense: A few suspenseful moments. Overall movie rating: Five stars out of five.