The Christmas comedy that is so much more than a straight holiday film has come home on DVD and Blu-Ray. The Night Before stars Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie and Joseph Gordon Levitt as three longtime friends who, for over a decade, have gotten together on the night before Christmas for a night of debauchery to help one of them forget/move on from a tragic Christmas Eve event from their past.
Ethan’s (Gordon Levitt) parents died in a car crash on Christmas Eve 14 years prior to our movie beginning and as this year’s December 24 revelry is upon us, we learn that it is their last. Mackie’s Chris is becoming too huge of a sports star and must focus on his career. Rogen’s Isaac is about to welcome a baby with his wife Betsy (Jillian Bell). The only one who really isn’t moving on is Ethan and as this night progresses to drift into more insane than ever before, the three friends will explore the meaning of friendship, family and the holiday spirit.
The Night Before is one of the funniest movies of 2015 and is so hilarious, we’re pretty sure it’s a safe bet to say the home video release will be one of the biggest laugh-fests of 2016. Rogen, Gordon-Levitt and Mackie make a terrific trio as their comedic chemistry shows off how well these three complement each other on the big screen. The funniest person in the movie, actually, may be Midnight Special star Michael Shannon, who has a smaller — but important — part as Mr. Green… a weed dealer! For more on the actual film, check out our theatrical The Night Before review.
When it comes to the bonus features on a comedy, we can be really picky. See, there can be gag reels and bonus features that are pure fluff. A comedy needs to know when to keep it simple, whether it’s in its running time or with bonus features on a Blu-Ray. We have to say that The Night Before hits the right notes on its home video release. Let’s delve deeper…
After witnessing The Night Before, you might easily find yourself in the Christmas spirit, even as it is spring that has recently dawned upon us. The Spirit of Christmas is a nice little bonus feature that has the stars and filmmakers letting us in on some of their favorite holiday traditions. It is such a treat, that we only wish it was longer.
There are numerous scene stealers in the flick, and one of our favorite get a spotlight on the featurette Drunkest Santas on the Block. The almost five-minute look at the characters played by Jason Mantzoukas and Jason Jones gives us an inspirational look at what it means to be a retail Santa and how all those pressure can manifest in a Christmas Eve drunk-fest that could find our St. Nick’s tying one on harder than any night of the year.
Our inner Mensch has to highlight the joy that went into creating the scene in the film where the film’s member of the tribe, Isaac (complete with Star of David holiday sweater), finds himself loaded — on who-knows-how-many-drugs — getting swept into attending church service with his wife’s family… including her grandmother! Midnight Mass with Nana takes us inside how that scene was achieved and above all else, showcases the comic brilliance of Rogen and Bell. These two should play a couple in more comedies! It also gives new meaning on how to put together a fish out of water scene with a congregation full of extras.
The end-game of this final The Night Before for our trio of best friends is to make it to the Holy Grail of epic Christmas parties — The Nutcracka Ball. Once our heroes make it to the big dance for the first time since their annual Night Before began, filmmakers knew that the fest had to be something that was quite legendary. The Making One Epic Party bonus featurette showcases how writer-director Jonathan Levine (and his co-writers Kyle Hunter, Ariel Shaffir and Evan Goldberg) achieved the impossible… the most epic cinematic party one could ask for.
The Making One Epic Party featurette also shines a light on the film’s overall themes, how it salutes other holiday flicks and how all involved have become pretty good at melding emotional power with their hilarity.
After concluding the film, you might crave more of Shannon’s character and someone who put this Blu-Ray together knows how you feel. Don’t miss Mr. Green Line-O-Rama, which is a four-minute look at the theories about who Mr. Green is, his cryptic messages for the characters and how the small role became more pivotal than previously imagined by the time the film started shooting.
Yes, the standard Cast Gag Reel is solid, come on… has a Rogen comedy ever not had a good Gag Reel? Also nice is the four deleted and extended scenes. But if we had to highlight only one more of the bevy of bonus features, it is Christmas in the Summer. How does one shoot a Christmas movie in New York City when the temperatures have everyone sweltering? Don those Christmas sweaters and pray for a cool breeze! This featurette dive into the iconic Christmas sweaters that our stars wear and how costume designer chose those winning designs. By the time you finish this featurette, you might subconsciously feel the need to turn on the air conditioning!
Film: B+
Bonus Features: A