KATHERINE Newbury (Emma Thompson) is a rare female comedian hosting a late night talk show in America with a plethora of awards to her name.
However, her ratings are down and, accused of being a “woman who hates women”, she asks for a woman to be hired to her all-male and all-white writers room.
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READ NOWMolly Patel (Mindy Kaling), a long-time fan of the show, is ecstatic to get the job despite having no experience in comedy and receiving hostility from most of the other writers and Katherine herself.
Determined to prove she is more than a diversity hire, Molly works hard to revitalise the show and Katherine’s career by showing her it is her differences that give her something relevant to say.
Thankfully for a film about comedy, Late Night is hilarious; Thompson’s sharp and cutting wit and Kaling’s optimistic and honest humour are the perfect foil for each other.
Kaling wrote the screenplay and her skill at writing for multiple characters for TV programs such as The Office US and The Mindy Project is on display, with every character needing only a few lines to convey their individuality and each one contributing to the laughs.
The light-hearted feel means when the sexism hits, it hits all the harder and is cuttingly familiar to any woman working in any industry.
Although discussing serious ideas of privilege, race and gender, Late Night for the main is a fun and warm film that wants to make you think but mostly wants to make you laugh.
THE ESSENTIALS
Late Night (M)
Directed by: Nisha Ganatra
Starring: Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, John Lithgow
Review by: Lucy Rutherford
Four stars
Now in cinemas
