The Stream: Chaotic, confusing and cacophonous and gets annoying.

The Big Screen: A sprawling cast with standout impressions of recognizable comedians.

The Final Bill: Like most SNL episode, this movie has its moments.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Jason Reitman
Writers: Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan
Stars: Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt, Dylan O’Brien, Nicholas Braun, Lamorne Morris, Cooper Hoffman, Tommy Dewey, Matthew Rhys, Willem Dafoe,
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Rating: R for language throughout, sexual references, some drug use and brief graphic nudity.
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
Production Companies: Sony Pictures, SNL Studios, Right of Way Films, Broadway Video
Platform: In theaters October 11, 2024
Notable Trailers: Mickey 17, Here, Conclave, Venom: The Last Dance

Hey, Streamers!  In honor of the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live’s debut, there is a new movie that chronicles the making of that program’s first episode, which is now released almost 50 years to the day of that first episode.  Directed by Jason Reitman, Saturday Night takes place on October 11, 1975, and the movie follows Lorne Michaels (Gabrielle LaBelle), the producer of the new sketch comedy show, as he attempts to put together a revolutionary, iconoclastic, one-of-a-kind show while the cast, crew and network seem to thwart him at every turn.  Celebrity cameos and endless nostalgic hijinks ensue.

Saturday Night has its good moments, but it also has some iffy moments.  For the most part, the movie throws the audience in the middle of all of the chaos of that night in 1975, and it feels like chaos.  The camera seems to swirl around as it chases the action of the preparation for the show.  We follow Michaels as he goes around putting out fires all over the place.  The score is very propulsive and adds to the tension of the night. By doing this, Reitman really captures the stress and confusion of putting on a live television show.  For a movie that isn’t a thriller, it is very nerve-wracking.  Unfortunately, the noise and chaos fill the screen and the runtime with very little respite. Honestly,  it gets pretty annoying after a while.

On the other hand, the cast does a good job of approximating the younger versions of these famous actors.  Cory Michael Smith and Dylan O’Brien embody both Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd, respectively.  They have the voices down, and they bring this movie to life.  Also, Lamorne Morris has a great part in playing Garrett Morris, and he’s a bright spot in his limited screen time.  There are so many characters that it is hard to keep track, but most of them get a fun moment in the spotlight. Unfortunately, we don’t learn anything about them or why their presence was so impactful for the television show.  In fact, this movie completely fails to explain why SNL has endured for 50 years.  That feels like a missed opportunity.

Ultimately, Saturday Night does a good job of depicting the chaos that occurred when Saturday Night Live was being created.  It feels noisy, confusing and stressful, which is entertaining for the most part.  The nostalgia of seeing our favorite comedians as young “not ready for primetime players” will be more interesting to some than others.  However, the film fails to broaden out beyond just a crazy night in making a television show.  The nostalgia will make this a big box of popcorn treat for those SNL fans, but everyone else may be better served waiting for this to pop up on Peacock.