Saturday Night is the true story about the launch of the first live sketch comedy show. In October 1975, Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) is a whirlwind of adrenaline. On one hand, he’s excited. His dream of a variety program that pushes the edge of humor is finally going to air. Maybe. There are so many factors outside his control, that any moment his frail ambition could crumble apart. Maybe the NBC executives will balk at the risk last minute. Maybe his star performer John Belushi (Matt Wood) will flake out. Maybe the equipment will fail. Maybe all of his work will be for nothing. But maybe he’ll be able to show the world his vision for a new type of entertainment and hook them for decades to come. He’s got 90 minutes before going live and Murphy’s law is in full effect: “anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”
What works in Saturday Night is the absolutely outstanding directing, writing, and performances. Writer/director Jason Reitman (Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Up in the Air) crafts a script with Gil Kenan (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) that moves with resounding alacrity, propelled by razor sharp wit. Saturday Night accurately captures the frenetic energy that undoubtedly swirled in the air, given the talent assembled. To this point, the acting ensemble is fantastic. Each performer—much like their real-life counterparts—showcases immense talent by truly becoming their subjects, and then trying to one up their peers. Cory Michael Smith (Gotham), Ella Hunt (Anna and the Apocalypse) and Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner) are particularly excellent as Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, and Dan Aykroyd respectively. All in all, Saturday Night is wildly insightful and hilariously entertaining.
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Audiences not as familiar with SNL may not appreciate and enjoy Saturday Night as much as others. Reitman drops viewers right into the action, asking them to hold on as the film rockets through its narrative. Because of that pacing, there’s no time to explain why George Carlin (Matthew Rhys) as the first host is significant. Or why Jim Henson (Nicholas Bruan) is so comically out of place among the others. Saturday Night expects you to have some familiarity with its subjects, and without that people may feel lost or confused. Finally, people who prefer to avoid films with strong profanity may choose to skip Saturday Night as seemingly every other word is a swear.
Saturday Night is one of the best crafted films of 2024. This is a movie where the sum of literally all its parts result in a masterful end product. Through Saturday Night, Reitman provides watchers a window into a frenzy of drama and comedy, that is engaging, heartfelt, and laugh out loud funny. Highly recommended, especially for fans of SNL.
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Saturday Night is now available to purchase or rent through digital streaming services.
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