Saturday Night

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Saturday Night movie review

On October 11, 1975, the countdown was on. In just 90 minutes, NBC was set to premiere a brand new show, but everything was in disarray—empty seats, unresolved costume changes, a lighting rig nearly crashing on the cast, and, oh, John Belushi still hadn’t signed his contract. In Jason Reitman’s retelling of the chaotic first broadcast of “Saturday Night Live,” the stakes couldn’t be higher. With the clock ticking down, the fate of the now-legendary show rests on the shoulders of one man: a 30-year-old Lorne Michaels (played by Gabriel LaBelle). Desperately juggling the demands of difficult comedians, unruly writers, skeptical network executives, and his own anxiety, Michaels must navigate this three-ring circus inside Studio 8H to make sure the show goes on—because if it doesn’t, it may never get another chance.

Director Jason Reitman, co-writing with Gil Kenan, thrusts viewers right into the heart of the madness with just 90 minutes left before the broadcast. Reitman, along with cinematographer Eric Steelberg, uses a frantic, hand-held style to follow Michaels through hallways full of chaos—dodging flying costumes, passing nervous NBC pages, and searching for cast members—while maintaining the frantic pace that defined the hours leading up to that debut episode. Filmed on 16mm, the visual style evokes the warmth and texture of the 1970s, with the era’s signature deep color tones giving the wood-paneled studios and dressing rooms an inviting, nostalgic glow. But don’t get too comfortable—Michaels is constantly on the move, scrambling to calm nervous execs or find missing performers. Occasionally, the fast-paced energy means some scenes are underlit, leaving characters lost in the shadows, but this adds to the tension as the show’s success hangs in the balance.

Timed to coincide with the upcoming 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live,” “Saturday Night” leans heavily into nostalgia, brimming with references to the sketches and stars that would soon define the show. The first cast is all here: a smug Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith), an unpredictable John Belushi (Matt Wood), the fast-talking Dan Aykroyd (Dylan O’Brien), bubbly Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt), the glamorous Jane Curtin (Kim Matula), the clever Laraine Newman (Emily Fairn), and a frustrated Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris), who becomes increasingly aware that his roles are reduced to racial stereotypes as the show’s only Black performer. In addition to the cast, we get appearances from real-life figures like George Carlin (Matthew Rhys), Billy Preston (Jon Batiste), and Janis Ian (Naomi McPherson), all of whom were part of that first episode. There are also behind-the-scenes figures like Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman) and a stern David Tebet (Willem Dafoe), whose skepticism threatens the show’s future.

Reitman’s film also introduces a few symbolic antagonists from television’s past, including Johnny Carson, who calls Michaels to belittle the new show, and Milton Berle (played by J.K. Simmons), who represents the old-school, conservative comedy that “SNL” would disrupt. These figures serve as foils to the rebellious spirit of Michaels and his misfit crew, adding weight to the idea that they weren’t just launching a sketch show—they were challenging the comedy status quo.

Of course, no biopic about a legendary show would be complete without some spot-on impressions. Smith fully embraces Chase’s larger-than-life personality, and Wood captures the brilliance and volatility of Belushi. O’Brien nails Aykroyd’s rapid-fire delivery, but Belushi’s wild behavior is played for laughs, turning him into a caricature of his infamous reputation. LaBelle, as Michaels, skillfully blends the producer’s deadpan wit with the palpable tension of trying to launch an untested comedy show. In an overdue nod to the women of “SNL,” Rachel Sennott shines as Rosie Shuster, Michaels’ wife and invaluable writing partner, who helps keep the show (and Belushi) in check.

However, the film falters in its depiction of some cast members, particularly the trio of Radner, Curtin, and Newman, who are reduced to the role of a supportive chorus with minimal input on the unfolding events. Hunt’s portrayal of Radner is especially disappointing, as her performance lacks the vivacity and physicality that made Radner a breakout star. An emotionally charged scene between Radner and Belushi, where they reflect on their shared nostalgia moments before going live, feels oddly misplaced, considering neither would have the chance to return to their beloved Studio 8H in later years.

Despite its imperfections, “Saturday Night” delivers as a nostalgic crowd-pleaser, particularly for fans who fondly remember watching the early days of “SNL.” For longtime viewers, every callback to famous sketches or performers feels like a warm trip down memory lane. Even though the film doesn’t attempt to capture the exact details of that first night, it succeeds in recreating the frenetic, rebellious energy that made “Saturday Night Live” a cultural force. It was a time when launching a sketch show on network television could feel revolutionary, and "Saturday Night" does an admirable job of capturing that feeling.

Director: Jason Reitman

Actors: Cooper Hoffman, Cory Michael Smith, Dylan O'Brien, Gabriel LaBelle, J.K. Simmons, Kaia Gerber, Lamorne Morris, Nicholas Braun, Rachel Sennott, Willem Dafoe

Country: United States of America

Company: Broadway Video, Right of Way Films, SNL Studios

Worldwide Gross: $731,276

Duration: 1h 49min

Release: 2024

Release Date: 2024-09-27

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