Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt already worked together a couple of years ago in the cancer comedy 50/50. They showed that the two work well together and they teamed up again with the same director on this movie. Its tone is a lot lighter and is set during Christmas. Together with Anthony Mackie they form a group of friends who have had the tradition since the parents of Ethan (Gordon-Levitt) died to meet up at Christmas and do some specific activities. The movie was released over here last month, so it is a strange experience to watch a Chritmas movie in May, but I was curious if this was a comedy worth watching.
As they are all getting older their lives are changing. Isaac (Rogen) is about to become a father and Chris (Mackie) has become a successful football player, so this will be the last year they’ll spend Christmas evening together. For years they have dreamt about being able to go the almost mythical Nutcracker Ball. You can’t buy tickets for it, but they have never been able to get their hands on them. Ethan can’t believe his luck though when he finds three of them and they decide to first do their traditional night and end it with a visit to the party . The evening doesn’t end up as they have planned though. Isaac gets a box full of drugs to try out from his wife and because of that starts acting weird. Chris has promised his teammate tob ring weed to the party and has to find a dealer, while Ethan is still struggling with his feelings about his previous relationship.
There are these films that when you watch them you immediately are won over by their vibe and that was the case for me here. The voiceover which started the movie was funny, the traditions these three friends do fun (ugly christmas sweaters, hip hop karaoke) and the actor have a lot of energy together. The movie is filled with great jokes, nice references to other Christmas movies and fun cameos. Michael Shannon stands out though as drugdealer Mr.Green. The Night Before is a Christmas movie which has been combined with a stoner film (not surprising with Seth Rogen in it) and the end result is a fun, amusing movie which makes you forget that actually isn’t Christmas at all right now.
I enjoyed this one as you did, but I got to watch it in December – how weird to have to watch it in the spring. You’d think they would just hold on to it til next holiday season. I really liked these 3 guys together , there was good chemistry. I agree that Shannon brought a lot. I don’t think it was great but it was a lot of fun, and it’s the kind of Christmas movie I prefer (ie, funny rather than sappy).
I’ve put off watching this given that it’s set at Christmas but having enjoyed this team’s work on 50/50 I should really check it out.