I went into Saturday Night with mixed feelings. On one hand, the idea of diving into the chaos behind Saturday Night Live's debut was irresistible. As someone who loves comedy and appreciates SNL's legacy, this seemed like a treat. But knowing Jason Reitman's tendency to play things safe, I kept my expectations in check. By the end, I realized I enjoyed it more than I expected. It’s a fast, chaotic ride with plenty of charm, even if it stumbles in some areas.
The story moves at a quick, energetic pace, capturing the frantic, messy vibe of putting on a live show. From the opening scene, the film throws you into the mayhem, and the pacing rarely lets up. I appreciated how it built the tension and chaos, but the structure felt a bit all over the place—almost sketch-like at times. Maybe that was intentional, considering the subject matter? It worked to some extent, but it also made the film feel less cohesive than I’d hoped.
The performances are where Saturday Night really shines. Gabriel LaBelle is convincing as a young, frazzled Lorne Michaels trying to keep it all together, and J.K. Simmons as Milton Berle steals every scene he’s in. Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner and Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd also stood out, bringing just the right mix of humour and heart. The nods to iconic SNL moments—like Belushi’s bee costume or Kaufman’s quirky lip-sync—were a delight, but they also made the movie feel like it was leaning on nostalgia instead of digging deeper into the characters.
That’s where the movie let me down. It does a decent job of recreating the chaos, but it sacrifices substance for spectacle. Some of the characters, especially Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman, get pushed to the sidelines. Their stories deserved more attention, especially given the challenges they faced as minorities in a predominantly white, male environment. Instead, the film focuses on exaggerated conflicts and flashy moments, which, while entertaining, felt shallow.
Smash Hit Score: 7.5/10
Still, I had fun with Saturday Night. It’s an energetic, sometimes messy love letter to a comedy institution that changed television forever. The blend of humour and chaos captures the spirit of those early days, even if it doesn’t quite deliver the depth I wanted. For fans of SNL, it’s worth watching—just don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel.
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