Watch The Night Before For Free

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Really? Why? Why must we have these every year? We've seen one, therefore we've seen them all. This time around we follow three best friends as they party on the night before Christmas. That is it. There is no more context. Sure some weed is stolen, phones are swapped and a karaoke session is performed...but it's just a party. Christmas is a time of reflection. It is a holiday to be spent with loved ones, cherishing all the little idiosyncrasies that friends and family share. But apparently in Hollywood, Christmas is about snorting cocaine, consuming shrooms and fulfilling a joyous night with plenty of regret. However, before you discard me as the local Grinch, I did find this watchable. The narrative does include your typical comedic structure. Main characters have fun, something happens, they fight, they make up. But it's executed in a way where it feels, dare I say, intelligent? No no, I take that back. Let's face it, the cameos and film references is what makes this work. James Franco flirting with Seth Rogen's character is somewhat humorous. Who can top that? Miley Cyrus. You bring in the 'good girl gone bad' popstar to sing "Wrecking Ball". That's how you do it. I actually found her funny. *sigh*...what's wrong with me? The cast was somewhat interesting. Seth Rogen having the most experience steals the limelight, Anthony Mackie and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were just there as a side show. And why oh why oh why is Michael Shannon in this? Why? He's better than this (although he played his role with conviction). The countless film references were horrendous. Die Hard, Home Alone, Big and even The Great Gatsby. Sure this comedy felt Christmassy, but it's just another generic party-a-thon. I feel like I've questioned myself as a film reviewer, why do I put myself through these when I know I won't like them? I guess it's that small glimmer of hope that it might actually break tradition and be memorable. Nope, this isn't it.

I'll start by saying that I've been a long time fan of Seth Rogan, even through some of his (supposed) 'misfires' such as 'The Green Hornet,' therefore I was quite surprised that 'The Night Before' sneaked by my consciousness and popped up to view on an online streaming services. I read the blurb about three old friends going out just before Christmas for one last big party before they all have to carry on with their adult lives and figured it would be worth an hour and a half of my time. It wasn't.Since watching it I've read a number of reviews, many bashing it for its 'glamourising drugs,' one viewer going as far as to say that 'the drugs were almost like a character in themselves.' However, that didn't bother me so much as the fact that I just didn't laugh. Most comedies fail to make you split your sides with laughter, but you should at least get a few chuckles and wry smiles out of a known comic actor's offering. I just didn't. There were simply no jokes. There was a lot of shouting and a few gross scenes, plus a fair amount of swearing (again, swearing bothers me about as much as drug-use, but it needs to be incorporated into the jokes, rather than just to fit as many four-letter words in as possible). There are undertones of likening the story to a modern retelling of 'A Christmas Carol,' therefore expect the odd (borderline) supernatural experience to be thrown in there. I don't know whether it was supposed to be really supernatural, or just brought on by the drugs, but it wasn't necessary to what little plot there was and it certainly wasn't as clever as it was supposed to be.I wouldn't even call the humour 'crude,' simply because there wasn't any humour on display. The three central characters just bumble from one drunken/drug-induced (supposedly comedic) set-piece to the next as they go around town. If they were likable you may actually care about their lives and the problems they're (sort of) trying to escape from (namely growing up), but you don't. They come across as the sort of 'bros' you don't wanna know.I still like Seth Rogan and will look on this as the first of his 'misfires' that actually misfired with me.

Two years late with this review, but never been a big Seth Rogen fan. Yet, I will now reiterate myself and watch "The Night Before" countless times in addition to exploring comedies with the various cast from "TNB". Seth Rogen in his PRIME, the movie would not have been a movie without Rogen. Damn phenomenal performance.

And other rude stuff of course. But you can guess that by seeing not only the rating this has on its sleeve but also by the cast list. Having said that, this is an adventure 3 friends go on every year on Christmas. And as everything that has been done too many times, it wears out (for them that is, maybe for the viewer too?).You have to like the three main actors or at least not hate them, to kind of enjoy the movie. There is of course at least one love interest and a lot of side characters (family), not to mention the clear connection to the Christmas Carol. But this Carol takes you on a different kind of a trip .. well you get the pun. If you think this is funny, then you passed the first test of "Should I watch this?". The rest is up to you and your mood/feelings towards this type of comedy ...