Lionsgate
Many political romances have flourished on our screens over the years. Inspired by this year’s hit political comedy, Long Shot (out on DVD & Blu-ray 9th September) which stars Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron, we are looking back at some of our favourite on-screen political power couples.
Definitely, Maybe (2008) – Will Hayes & April Hoffman
In the midst of a divorce, political operative Will finds himself recounting the story of how he and his soon-to-be ex-wife met, to his inquisitive daughter Maya. Will decides to change the names and some of the facts to create an ora of mystery, while Maya is left guessing which of the women will turn out to be her mother. Throughout his recounting of his past relationships, Maya (and a copy of Jane Eyre) help Will realise that he has been in love with one of the women in his story, April, all along. They go to April’s apartment where Will tells her that he has kept Jane Eyre because it was the only thing he had left of her (revealing in doing so that he still loves her). April hugs Will as they walk hand-in-hand with Maya into her building to hear the story. As Maya walks upstairs, April embraces Will (subsequently revealing that she loves him too) and they kiss.
The Iron Lady (2011) – Margaret Thatcher & Denis Thatcher
While Thatcher is shown to have had a rollercoaster of a journey as prime minister in this film, one constant is her strong relationship with husband Denis. Towards the end of her reign as Prime Minister, a teary-eyed Thatcher exits 10 Downing Street for the last time, with Denis comforting her. As the film flashes forward, she is shown as still disheartened about it almost twenty years later. Eventually, Thatcher is shown packing up her late husband’s belongings and telling him it’s time for him to go. As she cries that she actually is not yet ready to lose him, he replies “You’re going to be fine on your own… you always have been” before leaving her for good. Having finally overcome her grief, she contentedly washes a teacup alone in her kitchen despite saying it was a role she would never accept.
Legally Blonde (2001, 2003)- Elle Woods & Emmett Richmond
Though we don’t see Elle Woods venture fully into the political world until 2003’s Legally Blonde 2, the relationship between these two lovebirds is one for the books. Elle meets Emmett as he is assisting her lecturer Professor Callahan on a case and becomes immediately smitten with her knowledge on pop-culture and love of the colour pink. While working on the Windham Murder case, Elle realises that Callahan hired her as an intern only to make a sexual advance on her, leading her to believe that she was not a good lawyer after all until Emmett Richmond stopped her just in time from leaving. She goes on to win the case for Brooke-Taylor Windham and she and Emmett get married.
Parks & Recreation (2009-2015) – Leslie Knope & Ben Wyatt
Leslie often found her passion for the Parks And Recreation department of Pawnee Town Council overriding her personal (and love) life. Until she met Ben Wyatt, a fellow council worker. when Ben first comes to Pawnee, he and Leslie Knope do not get along. Leslie yells at him on three different occasions for being insensitive about firing people from the Parks and Recreation team, as well as for cutting her budget. When he asks her out to have a beer, they begin to respect each other more. Over two more series, the two fall in love and after some encouragement from Ben, Leslie decides to run for City Council, with Ben as her campaign manager. Three years from the end of season six, Leslie and Ben are shown to have three children, and Leslie is the head of the Midwest Parks Service in the bustling third floor of Pawnee City Hall.
Long Shot (2019) – Charlotte Field & Fred Flarsky
In 2019, U.S. Secretary of State, Charlotte Field learns from the U.S. President that he does not plan on running for a second term. Seeing an opportunity, she convinces him to endorse her as a potential presidential candidate. Charlotte and Fred meet later at a party where they recognize each other, as she was his babysitter and secret crush when they were teenagers. Upon reading some of Fred’s columns, Charlotte decides to hire him to write her speeches over the protests of her manager Maggie. As the two continue to spend time together under the pretext of Fred learning more about Charlotte for his writing, they start to get close, eventually beginning a relationship together. Chaos and comedy ensues which you can catch on DVD and Blu-Ray when Long Shot launches on September 9th 2019.
