Film Review: Crazy & Live from New York it’s ‘Saturday Night’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 3, 2024 - 8:12pm

CHICAGO – Kinetic. Frenetic. Chaotic. Live! Those are just some words to describe the Saturday Night Live origin story “Saturday Night.” Director Jason Reitman has infused this nearly real time tale of the struggle to get the first episode of SNL with an energy that grabs your attention and never lets go. That takes some doing when we all know the ending. SNL would not only make it onto American airwaves, but it would become an improbable television institution and comedy touchstone, now celebrating its 50th season.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

We begin in the 90 minutes between the end of dress rehearsal and showtime, and creator Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) is besieged on all sides as he attempts to bring it to life. He’s got three hours of show and just 90 minutes of air time. The network suits, represented by Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman) and Dave Tebbetts (an oily Willem Dafoe) are either trying to compromise it or kill it before it ever makes air. There are technical problems, fisticuffs backstage, and oh, John Belushi (Matt Wood) still hasn’t signed his contract and hates the bee costume. Michaels can’t even get an audience in the seats or sponsors to actually pay for commercial time.

”Saturday Night” is in theaters on October 4th. Featuring Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt, Dylan O’Brien, Emily Faim, Lamorne Morris, Kim Matula, Matt Wood, Gabriel LaBelle and J.K. Simmons. Written by Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman. Directed by Jason Reitman. Rated “R”