The Night Before

            It’s the holidays, and that time of year when movies try to get people in the spirits and become the next big holiday classic. And to kick that off, we have Jonathan Levine’s “The Night Before.”

The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie, as a trio of friends who have a lot going on in their lives. Mackie’s a famous athlete, Rogen’s going to be a dad, and Gordon-Levitt is a struggling artist working as a caterer. With so much going on, they decide to make this year’s traditional Christmas get together their last and best, and attend a party they’ve been pining to go to for years.

            The film is a very charming and lovable comedy that I enjoyed watching with my girlfriend, and we had a fun time laughing at all the shenanigans that the three get into. Sure a lot of it is sophomoric humor, but the way these guys deliver the jokes is what makes it work. Gordon-Levitt, Rogen, and Mackie work off of each other so well with these jokes, and the chemistry is very believable. You buy their friendship, which is one of the major rules of any comedy, and they nail it.

            The supporting cast also gets in a few laughs as well. Michael Shannon plays a weed dealer from the trio’s school days, who foreshadows events in the film, but his delivery makes you believe that he’s just spouting things out because he’s high. His timing and delivery make this character so fun to watch, showing Shannon’s versatility as an actor. Jillian Bell, who played the villain in “22 Jump Street,” plays Rogen’s pregnant wife. Some of the best laughs do come from when she and Rogen are talking about this baby, especially with one subplot involving Rogen’s phone switched with Mindy Kaling.

            If I had to list any problems with the film, I’d say that the beginning was a bit slow and a bit dark. Not that it was bad, but it does take a bit of time for things to really get things in motion. Aside from that, everything else really stuck to its guns and was one hell of a fun time. Hell, we even get some fun cameos from James Franco, Tracy Morgan, and Miley Cyrus (don’t worry, she’s good in the film).

            Overall, “The Night Before” is one hell of a good time. If you’ve got family visiting and they want to go out to a theater to see a movie, this is what I’d recommend. The acting’s great, the jokes are great, and it’s a load of fun. Check it out and see what you think.

Rating: 9/10