The Night Before

I need to watch more holiday movies this month and this randomly popped up on my feed. I don't know why I didn't watch this in theaters because it was pretty funny. You can tell a lot of the jokes were improvised on the spot (which I love) and Michael Shannon might be my favorite thing about it.

The Night Before has all the elements to become a festive tradition. A story of growing up and moving on that's really funny and has more fantastical elements to it than expected. It's got a tight run time and is always moving, massively helped by the fact that no joke overstays its welcome.

Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie are an unexpected trio that really work well together. Seth Rogen is the scene stealer whose drug addled antics generate the biggest laughs. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lizzy Caplan have an endearing chemistry and Michael Shannon as a drug dealer is a stroke of genius.

Jonathan Levine's direction cleverly hides the more fantastical elements in plain sight and crafts a comedy that's comedy is split between witty banter and genuine action. As a Christmas film, the film has the right amount of needle drops including uses of Alone on Christmas & Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) that are pretty euphoric.

I'm a pretty tough critic when it comes to movies in general, with comedies' standards differing a bit. I was very pleasantly surprised with this movie. I expected it to be pretty funny, but nothing special. I came away thinking it was pretty funny; but also found it to have a lot of heart and actually/shockingly, quite thought provoking. As I get older, relationships with friends are becoming confusing, complicated, and frankly quite difficult. And this movie hit on that really well. I also thought Mr. Green was an amazing character; and he's now a bit of a personal cult favorite of mine id say. This goes down as one of my three or four favorite Christmas movies.

This film tells the story of three friends who finally gets the tickets to go to the most epic Christmas party of all time.

"The Night Before" is a silly, drug fuelled journey that lasts for one evening. There are loads of eye rolling moments that are meant to be funny, but ends up frustrating me. It's tiring to see adults acting irresponsibly and recklessly as if consequences do not matter. The only redeeming part of the film is the extended cameo with James Franco. That part is funny and saves the film a bit. Overall, I think the film is not so entertaining, as it's too brainless and unfunny. Maybe I'll have to be in the right state of mind to enjoy it.

Can't understand people watching this moving looking for the next mircle on 34th Street....if you watch this for what it is...you will find it hits all the right numbers. References to other Christmas classics throughout, celebrities poking fun at themselves, and just general bafoonary throughout. Rogan out does himself over acting his drug trip and its ups and downs. Great movie. (Horrible 'film'...but great movie)