The Night Before (2015)

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Speaking personally, 2015 was pretty tough for me for a few reasons I won't bore anyone with. So when it came to the release of a new Christmas comedy made for those of the pot-smoking variety (and yes, this was before it was legalized up here in the Great White North), I was more than thrilled at the idea - especially considering it features the combo of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen, who I loved immensely as a combo in a previous movie; 2011's '50/50'. It seemed the perfect way to wrap up an otherwise bothersome year.

It turns out this has since become an annual watch for me, and this is me in year #9, which is hard to believe. Since its release, it has become such a perfect Christmas movie for me that it has ultimately replaced 'Bad Santa' as my one must-see "adult" Christmas movie of the year (not counting 'Christmas Vacation,' which is irreplaceable!) Every time I see it, it leaves me with a warm fuzzy feeling, even though it's still a raunchy stoner comedy full of adult humour. Speaking from my perspective, there's a relatability that is almost unparalleled in Christmas movies, but I'll get to that in a bit.

The movie opens with a Christmas rhyme, telling us the backstory of Ethan (Gordon-Levitt), who lost his parents in a terrible car accident several years earlier, around Christmastime. Since the incident, Ethan's best friends, Chris (Anthony Mackie) and Isaac (Seth Rogen), have supported him every Christmas by developing an annual tradition of hitting the streets of Manhattan, painting the town red, and having a great time celebrating the holiday. One year, they are told about the glitziest of parties known as "The Nutcracker Ball" - an event one can attend by special invitation only. They continue their traditions each year while looking for this epic annual party.

However, since Isaac is becoming a family man and Chris is becoming a famous athlete, their time is coming to a close. 2015 marks the last year of following this fun tradition but with a catch. While working a holiday party serving hors d'oeuvres, Ethan is asked to quickly take over the coat check station, where he just so happens to stumble upon three tickets to the Nutcracker Ball. Seeing his opportunity, he snatches the tickets and runs out the door to meet up with his friends for this last chance at making this Christmas the best Christmas ever, ultimately wrapping up their tradition in a nice, shiny bow.

As one would expect, this is one of those "one-night party" movies in which the main cast encounters all sorts of roadblocks on their way to this amazing Christmas party. Ethan spends much of the film still in love with his ex, Diana (Lizzy Caplan), with whom he'd consider getting back together, but he is unsure if she's on the same page. He also has a strong sense of nostalgia and wants his friends to stick together for as long as they can. I tend to relate to his situation on a deeper level in that he has difficulty adapting to necessary change. He also tries to be the voice of reason through the night, which is not a brag, but I can say I've been there a few times and understand his frustration.

Meanwhile, Isaac's wife, Betsy (Jillian Bell) is pregnant. Because Isaac has been so strong for her through her pregnancy, she gives him a container with any drug you can possibly think of as a gift for the last night of their Christmas tradition. Between him and an ever-popping-up pot dealer named Mr. Green (Michael Shannon), I'm not sure who owns the comedy relief through the film more. While I relate to Isaac as the pot smoker (not so much the other stuff), he also provides a good, albeit hilarious, look at how anxiety can work. I think it's safe to admit that I can overthink situations like nobody's business.

With Chris, the relatability has more to do with what's on the surface and putting his life on social media - again, I'm totally guilty of this. But it's nice to see how the film pokes fun at the idea, showing me how dumb it can sometimes look. Maybe this is one of those situations where I look at the movie more deeply than I should, but I would also argue there's nothing wrong with that, and movies are art, largely open to interpretation. This is a stoner comedy of often over-the-top proportions, but when the film ends, one can see a deeper meaning of how family can ultimately be defined. It's actually kinda beautiful in its own way, and it always puts me in the holiday spirit.

​5/5

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