For the show to go right, everything must first go wrong. Saturday Night is 109 minutes of stress fuelled chaos, as the clock ticks down to the very first live broadcast of SNL. This is one of the most entertaining and energetic films of the year, and a must watch for fans of NBC’s iconic late night weekend staple.
Jason Reitman wastes no time throwing viewers into the thick of it, as we pick up approximately 90 minutes before the first show is set to air. Immediately, you get a sense of the tremendous pressure creator Lorn Michaels is under, as he scrambles to get his cast and crew in order before the big debut. Everyone is counting on him. Many doubting the show will even make it to air. The film frequently cuts to black with a time stamp, as we get closer to 11:30pm. It’s anxiety inducing, rarely losing that feeling or its momentum for the entire runtime. It’s exhilarating and also exhausting to witness.
There isn’t much in the way of narrative structure or plotting, so don’t come in expecting some sort of insightful, character driven biopic. Instead, this peak behind the curtain captures the lively, spontaneous spirit of SNL. Elements of the story are certainly embellished for the sake of showing the audience a good time. I can’t praise this movie enough regarding just how close it feels to a genuine behind the scenes look - the music, the editing, Reitman’s confident direction and of course, the all-star cast.
Comprised of some of today’s most promising young actors and a few legendary A-listers, this is an impressive roster of talent. Gabriel Labelle leads the stacked ensemble as a young and eager Lorne Michaels. He really sells Lorne’s optimism and faith in the production, but also the crushing pressure coming down from studio executives. So much legendary talent came from the early days of SNL, so the young actors portraying them here had some big shoes to fill. Some of the performances feel more akin to impressions than actually capturing the essence of the stars, but again, that’s kind of what SNL is all about. The standout here, is Cory Michael Smith as a Chevy Chase. I truly felt like I was watching being the scenes footage of Chase from almost 50 years ago. The look, the voice, the mannerisms, and of course the big-headed arrogance - Smith nails it.
Saturday Night is a frantic, pressure cooker recount of the 90 minutes leading up to SNL’s first show. What it lacks in narrative depth, it more than makes up for in pure, chaotic entertainment value, with a stellar ensemble bringing it all to life.
4/5
Review by: Benjamin Garrett