Saturday Night

"The attached article below is a “Fact-Check” of the upcoming ‘Saturday Night’ movie — No doubt the first decade of skits from #SNL in the #1970s were some of the best. This movie should be some happy #nostalgia for a lot of us (Rotten Tomatoes already has it at 78% on the tomato-meter) 🍅 — The movie just premiered in Toronto at #TIFF and will have its wide release on Oct. 11th, 2024, exactly 49 years after its premiere episode. https://decider.com/2024/09/28/saturday-night-movie-vs-snl-premiere/ "

"This movie should have been much better than the end result. The target audience for this is an older demographic. I mean you would have to have been at least 15 years old in 1975 to really remember the first episode of SNL, that would put you at 65 years or older today. So for Jason Reitman to just assume that everyone knows all the players in the early days on SNL is quite presumptuous and misguided. The mass number of today's audience needs to have more of a back story or at least, an explanation of what's going on. The premise for the movie is that it's the hour and a half preceding the very first episode of SNL and it shows all the chaotic backstage craziness that leads up to airtime. It's not funny either. I don't recall laughing at all during the entire film, except for Milton Bearle, played by JK Simmons, who had a funny one liner. But I did enjoy it for the sake of nostalgia, even though I was only 7 years old in 1975, I've seen all the early SNL episodes in reruns or online over the years. But I can't imagine that anyone under the age of 35 or 40 would get it. I will give props to the actors portraying the original cast, they all did a fine job, especially Dylan O'Brien as Dan Aykroyd, and Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris (no relation). Sadly, I was disappointed as I had hoped this movie would have been and should have been better than it is. 6/10"

"I’m sure I’m the targeted demographic for this, but Jason Reitman just makes solid, good movies. It had to be a passion project for him and it’s written so well. It’s the hour and a half leading up to the first SNL episode in 1975. The all star cast, some looking totally unrecognizable, is each given a chance to show why the person in the role they’re playing was special. I’m not sure how this will resonate with the average under 30 (40?) viewer. But I had a lot of fun reminiscing. "

"This is an impressively well made and entertaining film that focuses on the chaotic 90 minutes leading up to the first ever episode of the iconic TV show SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. I was particularly impressed by the way the film perfectly captured the energy and behind-the-scenes chaos of prepping a live comedy TV show. Phenomenal direction and writing that never lost focus on the story, and a brilliant cast that did an amazing job of inhabiting the real-life people they portrayed. The cast was so uniformly good to the point that it was hard to tell who a standout really was at times, but if I were to pick one or two, I’d hands down go with the lead star Gabriel LaBelle as the young Lorne Michaels (who had now played the younger versions of 2 iconic Hollywood figures (the other being a young Steven Spielberg in THE FABELMANS)) whose performance anchors this film remarkably effectively, along with Cory Michael Smith as the young Chevy Chase. Even cameos leave an incredible impression as well (such as J. K. Simmons as Milton Berle among others). Equally great were the editing, the sound design and the score (hope the film gets nominations for screenplay, editing, and sound at the bare minimum). A wonderful 50th anniversary tribute to SNL, and very highly recommended."

"Pure magic! This film captures the comedy and nostalgia of Saturday Night Live ! It is brilliantly cast ( I can't say that a claim to fame is I know Matt Wood) . Funny , crazy , and unpredictable! Wonderful from start to finish! "

"the energy in this thing is BOLD. it’s insane. it’s really captivating! i was so stoked about this cast. gabriel labelle has an insane resume having played stephen spielberg and now lorne michaels. he’s a great leading man in the chaos. andrew barth feldman is my GUY. it was so cool to see him being so funny and so him in a huge movie. nicholas podany has been slept on for far too long and i hope this just woke everyone up. i’ve watched all of his elaborate youtube series and i’m so glad to see him really getting out there. let’s cast him in more stuff please. as a creative as well. so yeah this was epic and very cool to see some underrated faces in such an ambitious project!! it’s cool to know some of the behind the scenes of what got SNL its start."

"I’m a fan of SNL so it was interesting watching how it all began. "

"Love SNL this movie was fantastic. I really don’t know how they made it through the first show, but I am so glad they did. "

"3.5/5: This movie was pretty entertaining despite having some big flaws in its execution. The entire cast was phenomenal. The pacing of this movie was really great as well. Jason Reitman did a great job with the tension buildup of airing the first episode of SNL. What took me out a bit was when it got a little too dramatized. I wish they stuck with the documentary-like feel the whole movie. I also felt that when the film tried to be more on the comedy side, there were more misses than hits. The third act really saved this movie. Overall, I was satisfied with an interesting story about a cultural epicenter with an A1 cast behind it. "

"Saturday Night (2024), directed by Jason Reitman, offers an exhilarating glimpse into the chaotic 90 minutes leading up to the inaugural broadcast of Saturday Night Live on October 11, 1975. The film captures the frenetic energy and behind-the-scenes turmoil that birthed a television revolution. Gabriel LaBelle delivers a compelling performance as a young Lorne Michaels, the visionary producer striving to bring his ambitious concept to life amidst network skepticism and logistical hurdles. The ensemble cast, including Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase, Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner, and Dylan O'Brien as Dan Aykroyd, adeptly embodies the original "Not Ready for Prime Time Players," adding authenticity to the narrative. Reitman's direction, complemented by Eric Steelberg's dynamic cinematography, immerses viewers in the whirlwind of last-minute preparations, capturing the essence of live television's unpredictability. The film's pacing mirrors the urgency of the moment, effectively conveying the high stakes and creative tensions that defined the show's debut. While Saturday Night excels in portraying the immediacy and excitement of the countdown to air, it occasionally sacrifices deeper character exploration for the sake of momentum. Some critics have noted that the film's focus on the ensemble's collective experience leaves individual backstories underdeveloped. Despite these minor shortcomings, Saturday Night stands as a vibrant homage to a pivotal moment in television history. Its blend of humor, tension, and nostalgia offers both longtime fans and newcomers an engaging look at the origins of an enduring cultural phenomenon."