Long Shot
Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) is a gifted and free-spirited journalist with an affinity for trouble. Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) is one of the most influential women in the world. Smart, sophisticated, and accomplished, she's a powerhouse diplomat with a talent for...well, mostly everything. The two have nothing in common, except that she was his babysitter and childhood crush. When Fred unexpectedly reconnects with Charlotte, he charms her with his self-deprecating humor and his memories of her youthful idealism. As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte impulsively hires Fred as her speechwriter, much to the dismay of her trusted advisors. A fish-out-of-water on Charlotte's elite team, Fred is unprepared for her glamorous lifestyle in the limelight. However, sparks fly as their unmistakable chemistry leads to a round-the-world romance and a series of unexpected and dangerous incidents.
Produced on a mid-range budget of $40.0M, the film represents a studio production.
5 wins & 13 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Long Shot (2019) exhibits deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of Jonathan Levine's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 5 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Fred Flarsky
Charlotte Field
Lance
Maggie Millikin
Tom Wembley
President Chambers
Parker Wembley
Main Cast & Characters
Fred Flarsky
Played by Seth Rogen
An idealistic, scruffy journalist who reunites with his former babysitter turned Secretary of State and becomes her speechwriter.
Charlotte Field
Played by Charlize Theron
The ambitious and polished U.S. Secretary of State preparing a presidential run who hires her childhood friend as her speechwriter.
Lance
Played by O'Shea Jackson Jr.
Fred's loyal best friend who encourages him to pursue Charlotte and supports his personal growth.
Maggie Millikin
Played by June Diane Raphael
Charlotte's no-nonsense chief of staff who is protective of Charlotte's career and skeptical of Fred.
Tom Wembley
Played by Ravi Patel
Charlotte's image consultant obsessed with polling data and making her appear more likable to voters.
President Chambers
Played by Bob Odenkirk
The shallow, TV personality president who plans to step down to pursue an acting career.
Parker Wembley
Played by Andy Serkis
Tom's brother and part of Charlotte's staff who works on her campaign strategy.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Fred Flarsky is an idealistic investigative journalist working undercover at a white nationalist rally, establishing his passionate commitment to truth and social justice, albeit in a chaotic, unpolished way.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when At a party, Fred unexpectedly encounters Charlotte Field, his former babysitter and teenage crush. She remembers him fondly and they share a moment of genuine connection, disrupting both their current trajectories.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Fred accepts Charlotte's job offer and joins her team, making an active choice to enter the world of high-stakes politics and Charlotte's sophisticated sphere, leaving behind his scrappy journalist life., moving from reaction to action.
At 62 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Fred and Charlotte fully commit to their relationship and make love. Charlotte's poll numbers are rising and everything seems perfect - a false victory. They believe they can have both the relationship and her political success, raising the stakes for when this illusion shatters., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 93 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Charlotte succumbs to political pressure and publicly denounces Fred to save her campaign, choosing ambition over authenticity and love. Fred is devastated and humiliated. Their relationship appears dead, and Charlotte has become exactly what she feared - inauthentic and compromised., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 100 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Charlotte has an epiphany watching Fred's interview where he defends her character despite being hurt. She realizes that authenticity and love matter more than political calculation. She synthesizes her political skills with Fred's authentic values, finding a new way forward that doesn't require compromising who she is., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Long Shot's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Long Shot against these established plot points, we can identify how Jonathan Levine utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Long Shot within the comedy genre.
Jonathan Levine's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Jonathan Levine films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Long Shot takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jonathan Levine filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Jonathan Levine analyses, see 50/50, Snatched and The Night Before.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Fred Flarsky is an idealistic investigative journalist working undercover at a white nationalist rally, establishing his passionate commitment to truth and social justice, albeit in a chaotic, unpolished way.
Theme
Fred's friend Lance tells him "You can't compromise who you are" when discussing Fred's career struggles, establishing the central theme of authenticity versus compromise that will drive both the romantic and political storylines.
Worldbuilding
Fred quits his job when his newspaper is bought by a media conglomerate, establishing his uncompromising principles. Meanwhile, Charlotte Field, Secretary of State, is introduced as a polished, ambitious politician planning a presidential run, living a carefully controlled public life. The contrast between their worlds is established.
Disruption
At a party, Fred unexpectedly encounters Charlotte Field, his former babysitter and teenage crush. She remembers him fondly and they share a moment of genuine connection, disrupting both their current trajectories.
Resistance
Charlotte offers Fred a job as her speechwriter. Fred debates whether to take it, given their past and his anti-establishment principles. Lance encourages him. Fred interviews with Charlotte's skeptical staff (Maggie) who doubt he's suitable for the buttoned-up political world.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Fred accepts Charlotte's job offer and joins her team, making an active choice to enter the world of high-stakes politics and Charlotte's sophisticated sphere, leaving behind his scrappy journalist life.
Mirror World
Fred and Charlotte begin spending time together on her international diplomatic tour. Their chemistry deepens and Charlotte starts to reveal her authentic self to Fred, showing vulnerability beneath her polished exterior. The romantic subplot that carries the authenticity theme is fully established.
Premise
The "fun and games" of the premise: Fred helps Charlotte with speeches while they travel the world together, attending diplomatic functions. Comedic fish-out-of-water moments as Fred navigates high society. Charlotte becomes more authentic in her speeches. Their attraction grows through mishaps including a diplomatic incident and a molly-fueled night together. They begin a secret relationship.
Midpoint
Fred and Charlotte fully commit to their relationship and make love. Charlotte's poll numbers are rising and everything seems perfect - a false victory. They believe they can have both the relationship and her political success, raising the stakes for when this illusion shatters.
Opposition
Charlotte's team (especially Maggie) pressures her to hide the relationship and make political compromises. An old photo of Fred surfaces, creating scandal. Charlotte faces increasing pressure to conform to political expectations and distance herself from Fred. She begins compromising her authentic voice for electability. The media scrutinizes their relationship. Charlotte must decide between an environmental stance she believes in and political expediency.
Collapse
Charlotte succumbs to political pressure and publicly denounces Fred to save her campaign, choosing ambition over authenticity and love. Fred is devastated and humiliated. Their relationship appears dead, and Charlotte has become exactly what she feared - inauthentic and compromised.
Crisis
Fred processes the betrayal and returns to his old life, heartbroken. Charlotte achieves her political goals but feels empty and compromised. Both sit in the darkness of what they've lost. Charlotte realizes she's become a hollow version of herself, having sacrificed authenticity for success.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Charlotte has an epiphany watching Fred's interview where he defends her character despite being hurt. She realizes that authenticity and love matter more than political calculation. She synthesizes her political skills with Fred's authentic values, finding a new way forward that doesn't require compromising who she is.
Synthesis
Charlotte makes a grand romantic gesture, publicly embracing her relationship with Fred during a major speech. She chooses authenticity over political expediency, delivering an honest speech that reflects her true values. She confronts the President and her advisors, taking control of her narrative. Fred and Charlotte reunite, both transformed.
Transformation
Charlotte is sworn in as President with Fred by her side, having won the election by being her authentic self. The closing image shows them together as partners, mirroring the opening where both were alone and compromised. She achieved her dream without sacrificing who she is or who she loves.