Director – Jason Reitman (Juno) 

Cast – Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Matt Wood, Dylan O’Brien, Finn Wolfhard, Cooper Hoffman

Plot – Explores the chaotic and risky lead-up to the debut episode of the now iconic Saturday Night Live show that aired in 1975.  

“I’m just here to play the butler, the shoeshine guy and the pimp”

Review by Eddie on 05/03/2025

Now a part of the everyday fabric of pop culture and the entertainment landscape, it’s become commonplace to forget that at one point in time the then risky and daring Saturday Night Live was a unique and game-changing property, one that set a new standard for live TV back in 1975.

Still going strong to this day, the early heydays of Saturday Night Live (the brain child of Lorne Michaels, here played by The Fabelmans breakout star Gabriel LaBelle) gave birth to iconic comedic performers such as Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Billy Crystal and later on the likes of Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler so for any fan of the comedic landscape, director Jason Reitman’s shot in real time expose of the very first airing of the brand is going to be one of major or minor interest.

Clocking in just over 100 minutes in length there’s a Birdman/Uncut Gems type feel to Reitman’s 16mm shot feature that rarely pauses for a breath or allows us to gather our thoughts, no doubt the intention of Reitman and his co-screenwriter Gil Kenan who do a fine job of not only recreating the feeling of being transported back into 1975 but being transported right into the chaotic and unhinged world of these “creatives” who banded together to create such a beloved name brand.

One’s enjoyment of this experience is most certainly going to be enhanced by having some type of affiliation with those that were involved in the halcyon days of the drug-laced Saturday Night scene as there’s a lot of throwbacks, winks and nods to some of the legendary faces that appeared in the beginning days of what would eventually become a rite of passage to many seeking fame in the comedy game and Reitman appears to care little about giving much to any of the more casual viewers that are likely going to be finding themselves what all the fuss is about here.

There’s some undeniable affection for the true life story that Reitman and his cast have and it’s great to see LaBelle go on with some of that screen presence he displayed in The Fabelmans while Cory Michael Smith as Aykroyd, Matt Wood as the bee-suit wearing Belushi and Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris all standout in a loaded cast that as to be expected from a Reitman film features a scene-stealing J.K Simmons as proud and cocky (quite literally) Milton Berle.

Entirely throwaway and not as engaging as you’d always hope for regardless of prior knowledge on the Saturday Night Live brand or not, there’s still a playfulness and respectfulness on display here that makes Reitman’s latest effort a solidly entertaining one that is a big step up on his most recent past recent effort Ghostbusters: Afterlife. 

Final Say –

Quintessential viewing for anyone that considers themselves a long term fan of the hit show or the iconic comedians that were apart of its heydays, Saturday Night is a frantic, fun and forgettable 100 minute distraction that is the perfect time-filler for a lazy movie night.

3 locked jaws out of 5