Directed by : Jonathan Levine
Written by : Jonathan Levine, Kyle Hunter, Ariel Shaffir, Evan Goldberg
Starring : Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Michael Shannon, Jillian Bell, Mindy Kaling, Lizzy Caplan
Release Date : November 20, 2015
If you were going to combine the sensibilities of "the Hangover" movie, but have it set in Christmas, then you might just get "The Night Before." This is a movie that is going for the goal of showing us the craziest and most outrageous Christmas Eve ever, but still produce some kind of Holiday message to learn from. So expect jokes and comedic scenes involving drinking, drugs, sex, rudeness, and just people making fools of themselves, as well as scenes of friendship, family, acceptance, and love.
As with many comedies, the jokes were very hit or miss in this one. Some were just too obvious and fell flat, while others were just fine and will at least elicit a chuckle or an approving smile. Not many of the jokes were really hilarious enough to be laugh out loud funny. Part of the problem is that at times the movie felt like it was trying too hard to be outrageously shocking. It was too self aware of what it's trying to achieve as a movie, that it was easy to see that some of the scenes and humor were just blatant pandering to the audience.
There are three plot scenarios in the story, with each one following one of the three primary characters; Ethan, Isaac, and Chris. Out of the three story arcs to follow, I liked Isaac's the most, and it's because Seth Rogen plays the drugged out character so well. That and his story gave me the most laughs out of all of them. There are also cameo appearances by certain comedians, actors, and even a singer, that were suppose to energize the movie even more by their surprise additions. I would say that each cameo appearance did in fact do just that, and were welcome to see on screen.
Although "The Night Before" is the kind of movie that may get a cult fanbase, it still doesn't really justify itself as a new Christmas classic. I was more or less entertained by the movie either way, but I don't really see myself revisiting it anytime soon.
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