The Night Before
Plot
Three friends, Ethan, Chris and Isaac have always spent Christmas eve together, after Ethan’s parents were killed in a car accident just before Christmas in 2001.
Ever since then, they have been searching for the ‘perfect’ party, called the ‘Nutcracker Ball’
Now it’s 2015, and for Isaac – who is a lawyer about to have a baby with wife Betsy, and Chris is the professional athlete he always wanted to be. Ethan, still stuck in the past, works the odd job – when he finds (and steals) three tickets to the party.
Now they just have to find it.
Direction/Cast/Characters
A who’s who of comedic celebrities, who have worked together previously, or once collaborated with Director Jonathan Levine (Director of such movies like 50/50).
Joseph Gordon Levitt plays Ethan, Seth Rogan plays Isaac, Anthony Mackie plays Chris.
Other cast members are; Lizzy Caplan (as Diana, Ethan’s ex), Mindy Kaling (as Sarah Diana’s friend), Jillian Bell (as Betsy, Isaac’s wife), Michael Shannon as “Mr Green”.
There are some fun cameos by Jason Mantzoukas, Ilana Glazer, Tracy Morgan, Randall Park, James Franco and Miley Cyrus.
Breakdown
Starting with a heartbreaking opening montage, revealing that in 2001, Gordon-Levitt’s Ethan lost his parents days before Christmas – prompting best friends to watch over him every year.
We also discover within the first two minutes, that this isn’t a kids movie, with strong course language and drug use throughout!
As the years go past, his two friends grow in careers and family – yet Ethan stayed behind. He had one great love in Diana, but was unable to truly commit. but still pines for her.
Now ready for their “last Christmas” before true adulthood hits them.
Isaac is a lawyer, who has one of the most supportive wives in cinema history. She allows him to go out (with a wallet full of drugs – which causes all sorts of chaos).
Chris, is now a professional football player (who takes steroids to stay fit in his “old” age of mid 30’s). He is searching for extra ‘weed’ to gain the popularity of his team mates. So he and the guys call on their old high-school teacher Mr Green (a scene stealing Michael Shannon) – who guides each of them during their separate purchases, discussing their pasts, preset and futures.
There are some usual cliche’ narrative situations; the friends get separated, they have crazy experiences (mostly due to Isaac’s drug trip), and the eventual arrival at the party.
The final arc, where we have the awkward (that proposal), the bittersweet (Ethan and Diana’s reunion) and the heartfelt (the men vow to stay each others “people” no matter how busy or old they get, is solid.
Overall
Fun enough cringe comedy, has the stock standard gross out jokes. Most of the cast are solid enough, but it’s yet another stoner vehicle for the likes of Rogan.
A bit of heart towards the end saves it, but it’s fairly predictable.
3/5
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