Holiday Film Rings in Adult Content

Photo Courtesy of Gage Skidmore, Flickr Creative Commons

“The Night Before” is a raunchy holiday comedy directed by Jonathan Levine of 2011’s “50/50.” Levine wrote the script with Kyle Hunter and Ariel Shaffir, cowriters of “This is the End,” “Neighbors” and “The Interview.” Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie star.

Rogan plays Isaac Greenberg, a lawyer expecting a baby with his wife, Betsy (Jillian Bell). Isaac traditionally spends each Christmas Eve going out on the town with his lifelong friends, Chris (Mackie) and Ethan (Gordon-Levitt). But this year, each must learn to mature as an adult and come face-to-face with their responsibilities as they go about their merrymaking.

Chris is a professional football player who gained his current position through the use of drugs. Ethan is an unsuccessful musician who is trying to get over a breakup with his ex-girlfriend, Diana (Lizzy Caplan). It was the death of Ethan’s parents 14 years ago that sparked the beginning of the three best friends’ annual Christmas Eve tradition.

This Christmas, the three friends reunite to finally attend the famous “Nutcracka Ball,” a legendary party they have fervently wanted to go to for 14 years.

“The Night Before” is no typical holiday movie. Filled with drug use and sex scenes, it’s loaded with raunchy humor while maintaining a sentimental Christmas storyline throughout.

ppark1@ramapo.edu