The first
combination of Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 50/50 (2011),
a film about a man battling cancer, was an awesome dramatic comedy. Over the
years, though, Seth Rogen has been hit or miss for me. Most of his movies tend
to fall by the wayside—too much effort, not enough laughs.
I didn’t see
this Christmas movie when it came out in 2015. I usually avoid Seth Rogen, but
when I heard it was written and directed by Jonathan Levine, the man
behind 50/50 (2011),
I decided to give it a try.
The Night Before won’t
go down as one of the best modern Christmas movies, but it’s one I wouldn’t
mind watching again. The movie had its laughs, its funny moments, and the
bromance between the trio wasn’t bad. I wouldn’t say no to a sequel if the
producers dared to make one.
A lot could be
said about how the movie could have been better, but I do appreciate how the
writer mixed emotional, spiritual, and funny elements of the season into one
film.
Anthony Mackie
isn’t a regular face in the comedy world, but here he held his own with plenty
of jokes. His portrayal of an athlete willing to do anything to stay in the
spotlight was funny to watch.
The Night Before is
about three friends—Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen), and Chris
(Anthony Mackie)—who bonded over the death of Ethan’s parents. They started a
Christmas ritual that they carried on for years into adulthood.
They decided
that, because their lives were getting busier with personal responsibilities,
this year would be their last Christmas together.
The problem is,
when one of them isn’t around, the other two discuss things about the missing
friend that they’d like to say to their face. They soon realize it’s easier to
talk about a friend behind their back than to say it directly.
Their planned
iconic last Christmas ritual started off great, with Isaac’s wife giving him a
gift that set the ball rolling in a direction none of the three could have
predicted. Chris’s constant need to stay popular cost him his self-respect, and
Ethan’s fear of commitment was costing him the woman of his dreams.
In the end, a
blowout forces the three to say what they’ve been saying behind each other’s
backs to each other’s faces. The result is something you’ll have to see for
yourself when you watch this movie.
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