#thenightbefore

191105 Mini Fan Meeting - Beomgyu Day

Those involved in making The Night Before, must've found it hysterical and heartwarming. For the rest of us, it’s not!

Orphaned as a child, Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has relied on his friends Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) to get him through the holidays. Chris is now a famous football player, Isaac is now married with a baby on the way. With these growing responsibilities and two of them perceiving a change within Ethan since his girlfriend broke up with him, it seems their yearly tradition has come to an end.

There are people who will relate to this story. In theory, I like it. We have many Christmas films about the importance of family but what if you don't have one? What if you spend the holidays with friends? How do adults maintain a relationship that important when blood doesn't tie them together? What sacrifices and compromises should you make to compensate for the growing responsibilities that come with adulthood?

What's missing to make The Night Before work are the characters. You understand why Ethan's desire to keep his buddies close, but he’s a loser. He and Diana (Lizzy Caplan) broke up because he refused to meet her parents. Learning this, you want to slap him across the face and tell him to grow up. Chris is injecting himself with steroids, selling out to corporate sponsors, and actively avoids his mother around Christmas. I guess having an orphaned friend hasn't made him appreciate family. As for Isaac, he spends nearly the entire film under the influence of drugs, embarrassing those around him or otherwise getting someone in trouble. Who is there to like?

Despite what seems like an original premise, much of the film plays out in familiar ways. Seth Rogen is enthusiastic about taking drugs… again! The same material we’ve seen in other “friends and their wild night of shenanigans” comedies - male nudity for yucks and "the true face" of celebrities - are the intended "big laughs". The story itself is also predictable. The second the drug-dealing Mr. Green (Michael Shannon) mentions a party, you know exactly what it means. When you learn why Ethan and Diana broke up, you can practically set your watch to the plot beats.

I rarely found the film funny and without those laughs, I could only focus on the nonsensical elements. I initially assumed that a Christmas-hating thief (Ilana Glazer) was a supernatural character, as she’s capable of some truly eyebrow-raising feats. She’s not. Her worth in this story is debatable. I sat there, confused at Isaac’s reaction to a crucifix. I know he’s Jewish and on drugs, but surely as someone who married a catholic, he must be aware of what Jesus looks like? I’m putting way too much thought into it.

The best aspect of The Night Before wind up being the side characters. Mindy Kaling and Michael Shannon are the only ones who made me laugh. It simply isn't original, particularly if you’ve seen Seth Rogen’s other comedies. Unfortunately, it's hard to get into the spirit of The Night Before. (On DVD, December 17, 2016)

thenightbefore

Jeonghan straightens, a smooth expression glossing over his worry. Mingyu gets chills at the instant temperature drop in the room. “Okay,” Jeonghan says, not missing a beat. He looks directly at Wonwoo. “You’re the least favourite out of Seventeen.”

Silence.

“Damn.” Chan whistles. “That was low.”

Wonwoo claims that nothing can make him cry, and invites the others to prove him wrong. It ends badly. Or does it.

Chapters: 1

thenightbefore

As the photoshoot progresses, Mingyu tries his best not to look at Wonwoo, but he can’t help it. Wonwoo’s shivering like crazy, hands curled on his knees, and Mingyu wants nothing more than to offer him his jacket.

But he can't. Because there's cameras, and Wonwoo doesn't like the shipping.

Chapters: 1