As someone who grew up in the golden age of Saturday Night Live, I was eagerly anticipating this film that promises to take us behind the scenes of the show’s origin story. With a talented cast and a director known for his comedic chops, my expectations were running high.
Initially known as a “high-idea” film during the era when Saturday Night Live ruled television, this proposed movie focuses on the creation story of that groundbreaking late-night comedy series. Instead of chronicling the events over several weeks or months, it takes place within the 90 minutes leading to the premier episode in October 1975. The audience will experience the pressure faced by the show’s creators, observe the stars perfecting their skits alongside musicians rehearsing, and witness NBC executives worrying backstage. Known for his witty comedies such as Thank You For Smoking, Juno, and Up in the Air, director Jason Reitman, along with co-writer Gil Kenan, have piqued our curiosity about how they will breathe life into this fascinating concept.
Entering the film, we have lofty hopes, yet not all our anticipations are met. The actors give their all and deliver some comical scenes, however, numerous jokes fail to land. Perhaps the film is overburdened with characters for a movie of 90 or 95 minutes, or maybe it’s challenging to maintain the unconventional humor that sometimes proved difficult even for the show itself. Fans recalling the thrill of SNL‘s initial years might want to witness this significant TV milestone, but younger audiences might find it lacking in amusement or intrigue.
The film wisely chooses to focus on the show’s creator, Lorne Michaels, played with energy and the right note of befuddlement by Gabriel LaBelle, who played Steven Spielberg’s alter ego in The Fabelmans. The gifted Rachel Sennott plays Rosie Shuster, who was married to Michaels at the time and contributed many of the sketches in the show’s early years. Unfortunately, her part is not developed as sharply as it might be.
As a gaming enthusiast, I found it interesting to notice that some of the actors chosen for the first season of this show resembled their comic book counterparts more than others did. Cory Michael Smith really nailed Chevy Chase’s charm, and Dylan O’Brien brought Dan Aykroyd to life in a way that was captivating. However, it seemed like the filmmakers struggled with John Belushi’s portrayal, which made Matt Wood’s performance feel a bit off-mark. On the positive side, Lamorne Morris delivered an outstanding rendition of Garrett Morris, standing out as the sole Black member in the original cast. Unfortunately, the women in the cast – Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, and Jane Curtin – didn’t seem to get enough attention or screen time.
Standout performances among the cast are particularly memorable, with Willem Dafoe portraying a discerning network executive who expresses both his command and sage advice towards the young characters. A pivotal scene showcases the cast attempting to win over visiting executives from across the nation, highlighting an unfortunate truth about the entertainment industry’s past: Not a single woman is present in the room. The only female executive we encounter is a network censor struggling to comprehend the occasionally explicit humor of the show.
J.K. Simmons portrays Milton Berle, a legendary figure in TV comedy, who makes an appearance on the Saturday Night Live (SNL) stage, albeit this encounter might be fictional. In these scenes, Berle struggles to hide his disdain as he witnesses this new generation of comedians taking over the spotlight. There’s even a witty remark about Berle’s well-known physique. Similarly, Johnny Carson, another veteran in the industry, feels threatened by these upstarts on late-night TV, and we hear him in an angry phone call, berating Michaels for attempting to undermine his position.
The movie exhibits seamless editing, but there’s an issue with the sound balance. Occasionally, the music overpowers the dialogue, making it hard to catch what’s being said. It’s possible that Reitman wanted to showcase his composer, Jon Batiste, who plays Billy Preston and was one of SNL‘s initial musical guests. Alternatively, this could have been a technical error. I asked a few attendees at the premiere, and they too experienced difficulties hearing some dialogue. Since it was the first screening, there might still be time to rectify these issues in the audio department. Given that this film aims to capture the sparkle of sketch comedy, it’s important to hear the punchlines clearly. This is just one reason why, despite the movie being innovative and lively at many points, it ultimately falls short of expectations.
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2024-09-01 19:54