About Last Night (2014) D: Pink; S: Hart, Ealy, Hall, Bryant

[gp1086]

Director: Steve Pink

Starring: Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall, Joy Bryant

Synopsis (per ComingSoon): A modern reimagining of the classic romantic comedy, this contemporary version closely follows new love for two couples as they journey from the bar to the bedroom and are eventually put to the test in the real world.


I just saw this tonight and really enjoyed it. Here's my quick review (also on YouTube below):

About Last Night Review

I remember seeing a trailer for About Last Night a while back and then completely forgetting about it. This was off my radar until I read some positive feedback this morning and figured I'd trek through the snow to check it out. I'm glad I did.

About Last Night is an above average romantic comedy, fueled by solid dramatic performances from Michael Ealy and Joy Bryant, and humorous performances from Kevin Hart and Regina Hall. Seriously, the cast is very good - props to the casting director for compiling this group together. This movie has a great blend of both comedy and drama and does a nice job of transitioning back and forth between the two throughout, so no jokes or dramatic elements get overly burdensome. Kevin Hart has some serious laugh out loud lines which had me and the theater rolling. In terms of criticism, there is one minor side story that didn't quite work for me, but it is not a significant portion of the film and didn't affect my overall enjoyment.

Give me a movie with characters I like, relationship that are built up to make me care, and humor, and I'm going to recommend it. Worthwhile to check this one out in my opinion.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0

[Abdrewes]

Within the first few minutes, it's evident that this latest incarnation of About Last Night has taken the basic structure and the most effective dialogue amendments in the 1986 Edward Zwick-directed film and carried on in an even more crowd-pleasing path. The generational loss from the play it is inspired by, David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago, is significant. Both the “original” About Last Night... and this updated all-black remake fundamentally misinterpret its core themes. Either that or they couldn't find a way to get to the punch without alienating an audience.

Steve Pink's latest film has even less interest than the earlier one in illustrating Mamet's ideas on the way masculine relationships and the female-objectifying speech they use with one another obstruct genuine heterosexual love. It opts for the the traditional rom-com path, so the raunch is mined for comedy and not depth. The brilliantly cynical final scene of the original play where the two male friends fully embrace the notion of loveless sex as they coldly analyze, quantify, and sort each derriere and set of breasts that walk their way on the beach will not be found here. Instead, this film wants us to care about these (mostly) economically stable, and very good looking Los Angelenos as they jump numerous hurdles to be with the one they love.

What makes the bastardization of Mamet's original play tolerable is that the constituents of the story are ready-made to work given the right cast, and this has a great one. You have Danny, the smooth talking but sensitive stud (Michael Ealy taking the Rob Lowe role); Debbie (Joy Bryant), a beauty who works in advertising; Bernie (Kevin Hart), the fast talking, perpetually-horny goon and de facto best friend to Danny; and Joan (Regina Hall), Debbie's roommate and Bernie's favorite sexpot. From the second Bernie and Joan introduce Danny and Debbie to one another over dinner, there's a connection. They dispense with the “take it slow” manifesto and jump each other's bones with impassioned lust that very night. The rest of the film charts the conflicts that arise from taking a relationship way too fast.

Considering the fact that this is the second time three of these actors work together (Think Like a Man being the first), their chemistry is a hot commodity, and it is only accentuated by the binary narrative set up. It allows each couple to serve as a palate cleanser for the other. When Danny and Debby move in, they invariably face a number of well-trod commitment challenges such as adhering to the apartment ground rules (using coasters and the whole jazz), the temptation of sleeping with exes while their partner is out of town, the emasculating effects Debby's bigger paycheck has on Danny, and the threat of heavy responsibility (oh no! She wants a puppy, what will this lead to?); so it is crucial to have Bernie and Joan's combustible, sex-crazed, and borderline-insane antics thrown in the mix to prevent dramatic stagnation. Sure, the material Hart is given is largely the same as his stand up act – his jet-powered libido, the crazy lovers he brings home, and self-deprecating jabs aimed at his stature – but his timing has never been sharper and small doses of his act simply works better on the big screen.

About Last Night is a pretty messy ride and it ends up feeling longer than its 100 minute runtime. There are an abundance of subplots that lead to dead ends and the cut-crazy visual construction can be headache inducing. Rapid cutting between lines of dialogue doesn't make a scene more interesting or infused with energy, it just lends adds an unnecessary assembly-line glossiness to what is supposed to be a frank examination of modern urban love. It gets some of the notes right, but it doesn't come close to matching the wit and subversion of David Mamet's original vision. They may get it right when it's remade in a couple decades, but, for now, this will do fine as easily digestible, late-winter fun.

[The Dragon]

Funny as HELL!!!!

[Britbuffguy]

I've seen.the original, but don't remember anything about it. I''ll see this one at some point.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Britbuffguy

I've seen.the original, but don't remember anything about it. I''ll see this one at some point.

It's definitely worth your time. I can't wait to own the blu.

[bowlingbilly10]

Originally Posted by The Dragon

Funny as HELL!!!!

More funnier than ride along?

[gp1086]

I'm really glad this one did well at the box office. Also, was cool to see the Think Like A Man Too trailer - was surprised at how much I enjoyed the first.

[The Dragon]

Originally Posted by bowlingbilly10

More funnier than ride along?

I haven't seen ride along-don't particularly care for Ice Cube... However, I bet it is! This has
to be one of the funniest relationship flicks, ever.

Regina Hall is a riot.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Dragon

I haven't seen ride along-don't particularly care for Ice Cube... However, I bet it is! This has
to be one of the funniest relationship flicks, ever.

Regina Hall is a riot.

I actually wouldn't mind a Bernie/Joan spin off movie (even if that will take it even farther away from Mamet's original play).

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

So all these movies like this, Ride Along, Think like a man, Baggage Claim, The Best Man's Holiday are basically the same movie with a different title, right? Or atleast that's what it seems to me.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Michael Bay Fan

So all these movies like this, Ride Along, Think like a man, Baggage Claim, The Best Man's Holiday are basically the same movie with a different title, right? Or atleast that's what it seems to me.

So, all movies with a predominantly black cast are the same? Please, before I jump to the conclusion that you are a racist, explain what you meant to accomplish by this post.

[gp1086]

Originally Posted by Michael Bay Fan

So all these movies like this, Ride Along, Think like a man, Baggage Claim, The Best Man's Holiday are basically the same movie with a different title, right? Or atleast that's what it seems to me.

I think there are similarities between About Last Night and Think Like A Man in that they're both romantic comedies. I would say Best Man Holiday (which I love and made my top ten last year) is much more sentimental. Haven't seen Ride Along or Baggage Claim, but they seem to be more straight comedy without the romance aspect.

[Noro]

Originally Posted by Michael Bay Fan

So all these movies like this, Ride Along, Think like a man, Baggage Claim, The Best Man's Holiday are basically the same movie with a different title, right? Or atleast that's what it seems to me.

Does it get any more closed minded than this? Jesus Christ.

[Cheerupemokid]

This was a lot of fun! Way better than Ride Along, though I think they're two entirely different types of films to be fair. 3/5.

[NYGiants Fan]

Originally Posted by Michael Bay Fan

So all these movies like this, Ride Along, Think like a man, Baggage Claim, The Best Man's Holiday are basically the same movie with a different title, right? Or atleast that's what it seems to me.

So, I take it you've actually SEEN all of these movies? Therefore, you can make the comparison and the blanket statement that they are all the same?

If you want to say that A Madea Christmas, Madeas Witness Protection, Madea's Big Happy Family, Madeas Family Reunion, Madea Goes to Jail, etc, etc, etc ad nauseum, are "basically the same movie with a different title, right?", then some might give you a pass. However, the way you have structured your query, I doubt many are going to be so forgiving.