If you're a fan of biography, comedy, and a splash of television history, then Jason Reitman's latest endeavor in Saturday Night is your golden ticket to a behind-the-scenes adventure. This movie review takes you through the frenzy leading up to the seminal debut of Saturday Night Live in 1975. With an ensemble cast including Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, and Dylan O'Brien, Reitman crafts a tale that’s as chaotic as it is humorous.
The plot of Saturday Night unfurls in the most riveting 90 minutes you'll experience. You get to step into 30 Rockefeller Plaza and witness the whirlwind of creativity and panic—imagine whose idea was it to juggle live sketches and improv comedy back in the day? This film doesn’t just show us the laughs but also the drama and the essence of what made Saturday Night Live a stone-cold classic. It’s more than just a comedy; it’s a love letter to the grit and guts that it took to produce live comedy television at a time when such a thing was as groundbreaking as bringing a toaster to a pool party.
When talking of acting, Gabriel LaBelle shines as a standout. There's an undercurrent of genius in his performance—a mix of youthful ingenuity with traces of desperation that captures the essence of the characters involved in launching SNL. Rachel Sennott and Cory Michael Smith add a dynamism that vibrates throughout the film. The cinematography heightens the sense of urgency and makes you feel like you're running along the corridors with them. Reitman has a knack for bringing out the zany in real stories, and he's assisted by a screenplay that juggles humor and tension as well as a gifted sitcom comedian juggles punchlines.
Remember Man on the Moon? That movie did for Andy Kaufman what Saturday Night does for behind-the-scenes television. It’s as if Reitman mashed up the comedic vigor of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with the chaotic genius of The Big Short to catapult us into a different era. Sure, we have other history-comedy crossovers like Drunk History, but this foray feels more sophisticated, yet still playful—and arguably more accurate.
If you’re into best biography movies or cinematic masterpieces that blend wit with historical context, Saturday Night is your next must-see. It's a fascinating, loud, and messy romp that's worth every chuckle. It proves that while comedy can be spontaneous, the best laughs come from a place of pure, unrefined chaos. Curious about how your favorite show was born? This movie is a trip back to that magic moment. Don’t miss it—because if you love comedy and history, this film is a must-watch!