In New York City for their annual tradition of Christmas Eve debauchery, three lifelong best friends set out to find the Holy Grail of Christmas parties since their yearly reunion might be coming to an end.
When we were first introduced to Rogen in "Knocked Up," there was some novelty to a story about a dopey slacker who learns some family values. But "The Night Before" is just dutifully following a template.
– Patrick Dunn,
Detroit News,
20 Nov 2015
fresh:
A finely tuned comedy machine, a film that not only works as a standalone contemporary project, but one that will come to be viewed in five, 10, 15 years as a snapshot of industry players at their prime, and a handy guide to before-they-were-famous icons.
– Barry Hertz,
Globe and Mail,
20 Nov 2015
fresh:
A smartly built, chemically-enhanced Christmas story about growing up that you can't watch with the grown-ups - at least, not the ones who will get bothered by dick pics.
– Matthew Lickona,
San Diego Reader,
20 Nov 2015
rotten:
A lazy and not very funny stoner comedy.
– Rafer Guzman,
Newsday,
20 Nov 2015
fresh:
Seth Rogen bursts with inventive exuberance in this schematic but genial holiday comedy about millennials settling down.