THE NIGHT BEFORE

★★★

THREE VERY NAUGHTY BOYS

THEATRICAL REVIEW
By Jess Fenton
2nd December 2015

A black guy, a white guy and a Jew walk into a karaoke bar... actually, you better sit down for this, this joke goes for 101 minutes. ‘Tis the season to be unholy, and from the sea of holiday films about Christmas trees on fire, dogs eating the turkey, meeting the parents and that whacky extended family, the minds of ’50/50‘ have brought us something a little different - ‘The Night Before’. ‘Shrooms, dick pics, weed, Miley Cyrus, cocaine, Run DMC, Molly and a guardian angel called Mr Green... it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

14 years ago, Ethan’s (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) parents died. On Christmas Eve his two best friends Isaac (Seth Rogan) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) came over to take him out, get him drunk and cheer him up, and so an annual tradition was born. But now that the boys are older, more mature and famous this tradition must come to an end. The trio embark on one final Christmas Eve together - but their new lives and a lot of drugs get in the way, and some seriously funny shit starts to go down.

'THE NIGHT BEFORE' TRAILER

While references to ‘Big’, ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Die Hard’ are made, this Xmas tale is strictly adults only. Back in 2011 we saw the beauty that comes from teaming Rogan, Gordon-Levitt and writer/director Jonathan Levine together for '50/50'. Now with Rogan’s filmmaking partner Evan Goldberg on board in the writer's chair, and with a subject a little lighter than cancer to work with, this group have made comedy Christmas gold. Rounding out the mix is Anthony Mackie; better known for playing tough guys and heroes, he’s finally giving his comedic skills the stretch they deserve as a pro-footballer finally finding his fame. Admittedly, next to the other two lads he doesn’t exactly get to shine, but he still holds his own.

This Xmas tale is strictly adults only.

Look, there’s a lot of ideas bouncing around in this movie that might not always fit, but they always bring laughs. This is the ultimate Christmas bromance comedy...it might be the only Christmas bromance comedy, about three guys partying, tripping balls, panicking about their future and trying to find love and peace. It’s got heart, it’s got Santa... and did I mention all the drugs? Tell me you don’t want to see that!

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