In an era where movies feel as though they’re becoming longer and longer, Saturday Night breaks free from this trend. In just around 90 minutes, the movie manages to keep tension throughout without an unnecessarily long run time, keeping the audience entertained for the entire movie. Saturday Night was directed by Jason Reitman, the same director who brought Juno to the screens. He has a talent of writing very real dialogue that manages to make audiences truly laugh while also having intense and engaging scenes. This movie features a renowned cast, with famous names lining the credits; however, what sets this movie apart from the rest is how the cast makes it seem like they are having fun together.
The movie starts outside the NBC building in 1975. An NBC page, played by Finn Wolfhard, reaches out to the many passersby, urging them to watch a free comedy show. As the offer falls on deaf ears, the movie travels inside the building.
Once the movie transitions inside, everything seems cramped and chaotic, with props all over the place. People interrogate the producer, Lorne Michaels, played by Gabriel LaBelle, about what the show truly is and how it is going to fit the dozens of sketches it has planned. Michaels himself isn’t quite sure about either question.
After the many questions, problems continue to pile up after dress rehearsal goes terribly wrong with a fire breaking out and the sound director quitting. To add to this, Michaels must meet the higher-ups who will watch the show tonight and decide the fate of the show.
This opening scene quickly establishes the stakes and tension in such a short amount of time. As night continues, disarray and disorganization damage the show’s potential. With actors running off, unsigned contracts, and unapproved scripts, most people are not expecting success with the show. As more people begin doubting the show’s success, Michaels must work even harder to prove them wrong.
This movie is both suspenseful and funny, and this duality is what makes it memorable. It also uses its incredible cast to heighten the movie’s charm. The actors are incredibly talented, and their subtle acting makes the audience understand that these characters are real people with real complex emotions. The fact that the entire movie takes place only 90 minutes before the show helps increase the stakes and make the audience feel like they are watching it in real time. This movie is an escape from all the deep and heavy-hitting movies. Instead, it is just a fun, quick movie, and that is what makes it so entertaining to watch.
