While Working for a Talk Show, a Writer Sets Out to Prove Her Worth

Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson in "Late Night"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com

Mindy Kaling has had an admirable career as a writer and actress in television comedies, most notably “The Mindy Project” and “The Office.”  Having written many episodes for each of those shows and two memoirs, it’s clear that she has made a name for herself as a writer every bit as much as an actress.

Her life as a writer, particularly her experience of being the only female on the writing staff when she joined “The Office,” serves as the inspiration for the film, “Late Night,” which is written by Kaling and directed by Nisha Ganatra.  The result is a fun and funny office-comedy with emotion behind it and lively performances from its two leads.

For nearly three decades, Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson) has dominated late-night television with her talk show.  But, when a drop in her popularity causes the network to choose to replace her as a host, Katherine decides to hire a female to had some freshness to her writing team.  When Molly Patel (Kaling) is given the coveted job, she works her hardest to make a good impression and find success in the world of show business.

Thompson offers an energetic and snarky performance as the acclaimed talk-show host.  She embraces the quick-wittedness of her character as she exhibits dynamic deliveries of humorous put-downs that she throws at her staff.  There’s a fiery quality to Thompson’s comical personality that offers a bit of unpredictability to how her character will interact with others, making Thompson an enjoyable actress to view as she traverses a turning point her in career.  However, as the film enters its third act, Thompson’s able to sideline Katherine’s rough-around-the-edges exterior as we explore the softer persona, adding an intriguing aspect about how those that make us laugh the most might not have as easy of a life as we may imagine.

Kaling is radiant as the eager-eyed go-getter who’s determined to show her worth within a group of people who don’t believe she belongs with them.  She displays her character’s resilience as Molly refuses to let her coworkers’ abrasiveness get to her and shows an ingenuity in how to improve Katherine’s show.  Molly has a lot riding on this once-in-a-lifetime chance, and Kaling shows Molly’s enthusiasm of giving her new career all that she can in order to exhibit her skills as a comedic writer.

John Lithgow offers an endearing supporting performance as Katherine’s husband.  He brings out a kindness that Katherine seems to need in her life, a sort of balancing act that tries to even out the sugar and vinegar.  With just a few scenes, he and Thompson form a deep connection that has you feel the years of love between them.

Kaling’s screenplay can be a little on-the-nose at times with its message, but there’s still a sharpness to its relevancy on the importance of having diverse voices in the workplace, and this invests you in Molly’s journey as she transitions into, and tries to maintain, her dream job.  The narrative has us witness the hurdles that she must overcome, showing Molly as she goes from isolation to acceptance, detailing the progression that she makes from having a rocky first day to having the confidence to share her ideas and make herself heard.

Aside from the humor, there are some touches of emotion behind the wit, particularly in the third act where Katherine’s character must handle some personal problems when they spill into her professional life.  Ganatra is able to jump between the humor and drama as the film focuses on Katherine’s comical and barbed dialogues with her staff and the strains of her personal life.  Ganatra keeps up the energy of Molly’s workplace as wee see the behind-the-scenes aspects of show business, but never hesitates to slow the movie down when it approaches the deeper moments between the characters.

Besides offering an abundance of laughs, some sections of drama, and timely themes, “Late Night” isn’t just a tribute to the importance of living your dream, but also what it means to work for it.

Grade: A-