Late Night reviews: 'Ludicrous comedy' 'has a lot of heart' and is full of 'INCISIVE barbs

Late Night follows a legendary late-night talk show host whose world is turned upside down when she hires her only female staff writer. Originally intended to smooth over diversity concerns, her decision has unexpectedly hilarious consequences as the two women separated by culture and generation are united by their love of a biting punchline. The comedy was written by and stars Mindy Kaling of The Office (US) and The Mindy Project.

What do critics have to say about Late Night?

Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive and Late Night currently holds 80 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Its critics’ consensus reads: “Smart, timely, and brought to life by a terrific cast, Late Night is a workplace comedy with a lot of heart – and just as many laughs.”

Tim Robey for the Daily Telegraph:

Kaling’s geniality gives the film more than enough well-meaning warmth to fall back on, which lets it breeze across some rough spots – not exactly plain sailing, but it’ll have to do.

Jake Coyle for the Associated Press:

It’s an admirably fun and light movie about more serious issues of representation and equality.

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Brian Truitt for USA Today:

Late Night doesn’t go for cheap laughs but instead wields incisive barbs to successfully make its point.

Hannah Woodhead for Little White Lies

Thompson and Kaling’s chemistry is the film’s bedrock. Their easy rapport is a joy to watch, and the former sells her character’s complexity with aplomb.

A.O. Scott for the New York Times:

Rather than scourging the complacency and hypocrisy of television, it subjects the medium to a vigorous exfoliating scrub in the name of feminism and inclusiveness.

Danny Leigh for the Financial Times:

Thompson’s performance is compulsively fun, the actor relishing the bone-dry put-downs of a memorably serrated character.

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Devika Girish for Film Comment Magazine:

It’s all a bit ludicrous, but that seems to be the very point.

Late Night is a warm, winsome Hollywood comedy that proceeds along familiar lines and culminates with easily won happy endings.

Ryan Gilbey for the New Statesman:

Though the film is about people striving for comic excellence, its own quality control hints that mediocre is good enough; it’s stuck between 30 Rock and a hard place.

Kenneth Turan for the Los Angeles Times:

Doing all that can’t have been easy, but making it seem like it was may be the most satisfying of “Late Night’s” many agreeable accomplishments.

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Peter Bradshaw for the Guardian:

Kaling is very good at conveying the paradoxical misty-eyed idealism of those working for this long-running TV institution.

Ben Travis for Empire:

Late Night is sharply written and warmly enjoyable, with Kaling and Thompson on endearing form.

But a few extra knock-out gags and a clearer focus would really help it in the ratings. 

Owen Gleiberman for Variety:

The movie, while it races forward with snappish energy, is telegraphed and a bit scattershot. Full review

Late Night is out in UK cinemas on June 7, 2019.