Saturday Night

Saturday Night

Released October 4, 2024

Directed by Jason Reitman

Written by Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan

* No Spoilers *

Before Saturday Night Live became a staple of American television and a household name, it almost failed to make it to air. Jason Reitman’s film is a frenetic and nail-biting retelling of the fateful few hours preceding the now legendary series’ first episode in 1975.

“Chaotic” doesn’t even begin to describe the energy captured as the story follows Lorne Michaels, played by Gabriel LaBelle (The Fablemans), constantly being pulled to put out fires caused by this massive ensemble cast. Despite knowing the show’s eventual success, I was on edge with the constant tension. Reitman’s direction and use of snappy camera movements rather than cutting away keeps the momentum pushing constantly, rarely giving the audience a moment to catch their breath. This frantic atmosphere is brought to life by Jon Batiste’s (American Symphony and Soul) sharp and energetic jazz score. Batiste even makes a cameo appearance in the film.

The cast is huge, and while they all deliver fantastic impressions, a few standouts embody the aura of these comedy legends. Cory Michael Smith (May December) as Chevy Chase is uncanny, both in physicality and attitude. Dylan O’Brien (Maze Runner) channels Dan Aykroyd with such perfect cadence that his voice is nearly indistinguishable. Matthew Rhys (Cocaine Bear) didn’t quite capture George Carlin for me, especially when contrasted with Matt Wood (Sunset Park) as John Belushi. J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) and Willem Dafoe (Kinds of Kindness) are brilliant as always despite their limited screentime.

LaBelle, as Lorne Michaels, anchors the film, present for about 90% of its runtime. Sympathetic and endearing, LaBelle is solid, but a bit flat in contrast to the surrounding chaos. With a cast this large it’s hard to talk about everyone, but Rachel Sennott (I Used To Be Funny) shines as Michaels’ writing partner and ex wife Rosie Shuster. Cooper Hoffman (Licorice Pizza) is especially great in his banter with LaBelle. Special praise goes to Nicholas Braun (Succession), who nails dual roles as two legends of the era: Jim Henson, the founder of the Muppets, and the eccentric “Man on the Moon”, Andy Kaufman.

One of the film’s biggest strengths, beyond its humour, chaos, and tension is how most characters are given an arc, even if they were brief. That’s a remarkable feat with the short run time and large ensemble cast. These moments recur throughout the film, providing short glimpses into the lives of each character. A great example is Garret Morris, played by Lamorne Morris (New Girl), the sole person of colour on set. While it is more of a tangent to the story, it’s still a welcome addition. However, for better or worse, most of these character arcs, remain secondary to the plot.

The story is supposed to be based on the true, untold events of that fateful evening. While I haven’t verified what might be embellished or even fabricated, the movie has a great reverence for the insane feat it was to pull off that first broadcast. The way everything miraculously comes together should feel triumphant, but the conclusion feels less impactful than expected. All that tension and anticipation seems to fall oddly flat. Perhaps this was an intentional choice, reflecting the unsentimental reality of live television, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the moment needed just a bit more dramatic flair.

Saturday Night is funny, vibrant, and a non-stop whirlwind of chaos. The fact that this show survived this first harrowing night but went on to thrive for another 50 years of weekly episodes is astonishing. Seeing a dramatized behind-the-scenes glimpse, full of familiar faces, was a joy. Though the character arcs are brief and occasionally shallow, they add depth to an already remarkable and often insane story.

7.5/10 – Reitman’s chaotic direction, the frantic pull of intertwining stories, and the absurdity of the character interactions make for a tense, joyful, and lively film. If you have any affinity for SNL, Late Night Television, or getting a glimpse behind the curtain, this will surely satisfy.

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