LATE NIGHT | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"LATE NIGHT"
(2019) (Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling) (R)

QUICK TAKE:: Dramedy: A young woman is a "diversity hire" on a late-night talk show, writing monologue jokes for a female host she's long admired who turns out to be a disappointment.

PLOT:

Katherine Newbury (EMMA THOMPSON) is a living TV legend, having launched a late-night talk show in 1991, won multiple Emmys, and outlasted many of her male rivals. But the show has gone stale among Millennials and Generation Z. There is no edge to her opening monologues, and her guests have been second- and third-tier for a while much to her producer Brad (DENIS O'HARE) and husband Walter's (JOHN LITHGOW) chagrin.

When Katherine gets called out for having an all-white-male writing staff, she commands Brad to hire a woman, a minority, or preferably a minority woman. Into their lives comes Molly Patel (MINDY KALING), a female, Indiana-American novice writer who has been obsessed with the show for years. She is hired on the spot, but quickly comes into conflict with the boys' club that is the show's staffers lead by head writer Tom (REID SCOTT); promiscuous funnyman Charlie (HUGH DANCY); and the old boys' club of Reynolds (JOHN EARLY), Mancuso (PAUL WALTER HAUSER), and Burditt (MAX CASELLA).

Molly is hired at a time when new network head, Constance Morton (AMY RYAN) is threatening to fire Katherine and replace her with up-and-coming comedian Daniel Tennant (IKE BARINHOLTZ). At the same time, Katherine quarrels with Molly who wants her idol to be more of a role model for women and take on more topical humor. The wheels come off when it's revealed that Katherine once had an affair with Charlie soon after Walter was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Writer and star Mindy Kaling does have older teens among her fan base.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For language throughout and some sexual references.

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