The Night Before *** (2015, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Jillian Bell, Michael Shannon, Lizzy Caplan, Mindy Kaling) – Movie Review

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie star as boyhood friends Ethan, Isaac and Chris, who decide their this year’s Christmas Eve annual reunion night of debauchery and hilarity is to be their last. Well, look, they’re 30 now!

Failed musician Ethan takes to the bottle, pro-football star Chris takes steroids and Isaac, about to become a dad, is given a box of every kind of drug under the sun to enjoy by his tolerant, pregnant wife (Jillian Bell) as an early Christmas present.

Dressed in their long-term trademark dorky sweaters, and with the help of the strange Mr Green (Michael Shannon), an odd and ubiquitous pot dealer, the trio set out to find the Nutcracka Ball – the party to end all Christmas parties.

This good-natured offensive Christmas comedy from Jonathan Levine, the director of The Wackness, 50/50 and Warm Bodies, is mostly very funny and welcome, though it is a bit uneven and patchy laughs-wise, with more hilarious jokes in the first half.

Even with some of the gags falling flat, and too many of the fairly usual routine sex and drugs jokes, the three likeable and winning central performances and the warm camaraderie they act out together certainly keep the merry show on the road. They’re just three cute daft big kids, really.

James Franco and Miley Cyrus pop in for game but rather desperate cameos as themselves. But, by and large, the laddish movie is a whole lot of fun, and has mastered the art of being offensive without giving offense, a neat trick to pull off, putting you in the right mood for the season.

Happy Night Before Christmas, and God bless us, everyone!

It is rated 15 or R for drug use and strong language throughout, strong sexual content and graphic nudity.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

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