This Is the Night

One family, three completely separate plot lines. Not a bad concept but somewhat disjointed. Yes, the acting was pretty good. Question though, would a mother actually react to her son the way she did in this movie? I disagree with some of the other reviewers, though. Anyone who uses terms like "liberal agenda" or "woke" would seem to have an agenda of their own.. Frank Grillo and Bobby Canavale were excellent.

With overwrought performances that border on melodrama, and a plot as generic as a bad 1980's teen comedy, "This is the Night" feels very much like it means something to the writer / director... But it won't have the same affect on anyone else. I didn't buy any of the plot points. They all feel wedged in. The enormous character swings are way too abrupt. This feels very much like a film-school sophomore's lazy screenplay, crammed in during finals week. D for effort.

Heartfelt 80s dramedy with the release of Rocky III at it's center. Multiple storylines are almost too much but the director makes them work. Watts and Cannavale give their usual solid performances but Frank Grillo shines. I have become very impressed with the way Grillo can make seemingly impossible acting tasks look believable and he really comes through again. Keep 'em coming Frank.

I remember seeing Rocky III in the theater when I was ten. Let me tell you, it WAS a major event. It was sold at out and we convinced the theater to let us in so we actually stood up in the back of the theater to watch it. It was the only time I stood up in a theater and it was totally worth it. Which brings me to this film. It definitely brought up feelings of nostalgia and I love how it didn't flinch away from the way people talked to each other back then. It was a heartwarming coming of age story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The story of "This Is the Night" is deep, but is delivered in a light hearted manner. The film spends a lot of time portraying the consequences of commenting on Rocky, which I think distracts attention from the beautiful subplot of the other son's journey of self discovery.