The Night Before surprisingly was highly enjoyable, and had many hilarious moments. I am saying this because Seth Rogen's last two comedic productions the Neighbours and The Interview left me very underwhelmed. So The Night Before is a comeback of sorts,and though The Night Before strived to become on of those Christmas classics people watch every Christmas it didn't quite hit that mark, but as a mindless stoner comedy its target audience well lap this film. For a film like The Night Before however a deep analysis is not really needed because from the onset, from the films trailer its was know to all the film was a in the "stoner comedy" genre,so a great story etc was not excepted. The only criteria for this film then is that is it funny or are the jokes stale.
Story wise for the last 10 years, lifelong buddies Ethan,Isaac and Chris have gathered on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holidays with a bang. As Isaac prepares to become a first-time father, the friends realize that their annual tradition is coming to a sad end. To make it as memorable as possible, they plan a night of debauchery and hilarity by searching for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties in New York.
Acting wise Seth Rogen is in full comic form, he pretty much shoulders the whole film on his back with an hilarious up roaring act. Josh Gordon-Levitt looked out of place at times in the film, but his scene with Miley Cyrus makes up for any blemishes he had.Anthony Mackie at times felt like he was doing a rehash of his Pain and Gain role, but he showed a good comic flair.
A film like The Night Before should be judged if the comic gags, and jokes actually work in the film or they just the same run and done clichéd comic scenes we see every other comic film. And this were The Night Before sets itself apart from the other recently Seth Rogen productions. Three scenes which mightly impressed me were the whole Seth Rogen drug induced act, the whole girl stealing weed from Mackie scene, and the Miley Cyrus scenes, all theses scenes will leave you in splits . However there some weird scenes in the film, for example the whole drug dealer sequences and how he flies away with his wings in the end is just plain outlandish. I think those scenes are made for some real serious stoners, I don't know. But I must say that Seth Rogen's comic act is what makes this film so enjoyable, he is the films soul,the church scene is him at his comic best.
Overall while The Night Before is no Christmas classic, but for its target audience this film is a winner all the way. Its mindless yes, but its damn hilarious, and I completely enjoyed the film. I just hope families don't go watch this film together thinking its a regular Christmas film, lol.
3.5/5* or 7/10
Story wise for the last 10 years, lifelong buddies Ethan,Isaac and Chris have gathered on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holidays with a bang. As Isaac prepares to become a first-time father, the friends realize that their annual tradition is coming to a sad end. To make it as memorable as possible, they plan a night of debauchery and hilarity by searching for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties in New York.
Acting wise Seth Rogen is in full comic form, he pretty much shoulders the whole film on his back with an hilarious up roaring act. Josh Gordon-Levitt looked out of place at times in the film, but his scene with Miley Cyrus makes up for any blemishes he had.Anthony Mackie at times felt like he was doing a rehash of his Pain and Gain role, but he showed a good comic flair.
A film like The Night Before should be judged if the comic gags, and jokes actually work in the film or they just the same run and done clichéd comic scenes we see every other comic film. And this were The Night Before sets itself apart from the other recently Seth Rogen productions. Three scenes which mightly impressed me were the whole Seth Rogen drug induced act, the whole girl stealing weed from Mackie scene, and the Miley Cyrus scenes, all theses scenes will leave you in splits . However there some weird scenes in the film, for example the whole drug dealer sequences and how he flies away with his wings in the end is just plain outlandish. I think those scenes are made for some real serious stoners, I don't know. But I must say that Seth Rogen's comic act is what makes this film so enjoyable, he is the films soul,the church scene is him at his comic best.
Overall while The Night Before is no Christmas classic, but for its target audience this film is a winner all the way. Its mindless yes, but its damn hilarious, and I completely enjoyed the film. I just hope families don't go watch this film together thinking its a regular Christmas film, lol.
3.5/5* or 7/10