Jason Reitman's latest effort, Saturday Night, aimed to capture the electric moments leading up to the very first episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) on October 11, 1975. With a stellar cast featuring Cooper Hoffman, Gabriel LaBelle, Nicholas Braun, Willem Dafoe, and J.K. Simmons, plus a budget of $25 million, expectations were high for the film. Yet, despite positive reviews from some quarters and Dan Akroyd calling it a “masterpiece,” the movie grossed a meager $3.4 million across 2,300 screens in its opening weekend.
So, what went wrong?
At its core, Saturday Night tries to channel the frantic, comedic energy of Alejandro Iñárritu's Birdman, with long takes and quick-witted one-liners flying at breakneck speed. Reitman succeeds in creating a film brimming with comic tension, but critics and audiences alike felt that the movie lacked deeper emotional resonance. While it's undeniably funny and stylish, Saturday Night falls short of being a must-see movie. Even though it's entertaining, the lack of depth and an over-reliance on humor may have alienated viewers looking for a richer story.
What's more, the film's Oscar chances seem bleak, dropping to #15 on the Gold Derby charts — not a great sign for a movie that once had awards buzz.
Still, for die-hard fans of SNL or Reitman's previous works, Saturday Night offers a fun, well-directed trip back to 1975.
Saturday Night delivers great performances and humor, but it struggles to become more than just an entertaining homage to SNL's origins. Reitman's Birdman-inspired style feels a bit thin without the emotional weight to carry it through.
Do you think a film focused on SNL's chaotic early days should have delved deeper into its characters, or is humor enough to carry it?
