Review of Mindy Kaling movie, Late Night

In generations to come, it is likely that Late Night will be used as an example of both a commentary on the socio-cultural climate in the west during this period of time and a women of colour’s experience of it. The latter is perhaps the most important as there is little mainstream media to document the female BAME experience of things like office culture, career progression and the MeToo movement.

And it does it all in an area about which, surprisingly, very few movies are made: late night television. As you might expect, it’s an exciting but cut-throat place to work for show writers; you’re at the forefront of the latest news, it’s bursting at the seams with humorous creativity and there’s always a bevy of famous faces around but you’re forever just one step away from being replaced by someone far more talented and far more funny.

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Kaling’s character, Molly Patel, goes through all of this and faces outright sexism and racism as a newly hired writer for her dream and favourite late night host; Emma Thompson’s character, Katherine Newbury. Kaling and Thompson are an unexpected yet electric duo and it’s a joy to watch them barb with one another. Thompson’s real life wokeness lends itself well to her character’s journey to greater self-awareness. From the supporting cast, Reid Scott is a delight, which helps pull us along his character’s arc, although it is a teeth-grindingly annoying facsimile of the office white male trope, which we have all had to deal with.

The film’s strong outfits and the witty and fast-paced writing bear Kaling’s stamp from her days on The Mindy Project and help carry the story through some excellent twists. Although there are a few jokes that are so blatantly racist or sexist that it feels as though you are being hit around the head with them, the irritation is fleeing because Kaling’s character is so infectiously relatable and a joy to watch as she consistently defends herself both when she is right and when she is foolishly misguided.

Although the film looks at deep political issues, it’s light and comical and a total feel-good, a great Saturday night film. And above all else, it validates the south Asian woman’s office experience. An absolute must-see.