“Saturday Night” is a razor sharp throwback

As television’s longest running sketch comedy show enters its 50th season, the film “Saturday Night” comes off as the best party favor audiences could imagine. Jason Reitman’s new movie gives us the inside look at all the effort that goes into making a live show that lasts for an hour and a half. But while “Saturday Night Live” has always painted a light, silly and topical portrait, Reitman uses a universal paint brush that showcases broad humanity across young performers hungry to prove themselves.

Stepping back to the 90 minutes leading up to the very first episode, viewers follow SNL showrunner Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) in real time. Cast members are clashing, crewmembers are in revolt, writers are battling with the censors, equipment is breaking; Michaels must navigate this all for the first time. LaBelle does a great job of keeping a calm demeanor that everyone can see is about to implode. He’s the straight man in a sea of very funny people, and the actor’s bewilderment makes us root for him as the issues continue to mount.

Hanging over the entire production is a Sword of Damocles in the form of the older generation. The senior-aged affiliates have no idea what to make of these kids’ new show, as nothing else on television exists for them to measure it up against. Network executive David Tebet (played in perfect antagonistic form by Willem Dafoe) is ready to pull the plug at any time, already lining up a Johnny Carson rerun in its place. We know Michaels will be successful in bringing the show to fruition, but seeing these stakes play out in real time adds a great sense of urgency that any one who has ever performed live will be familiar with.

Populating the madness is a who’s who of famous comedians: Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith), Dan Akyroyd (Dylan O’Brien), John Belushi (Matt Wood), Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt), Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris), writers like Rosie Shuster (Rachel Sennott) and Michael O’Donoghue (Tommy Dewey); the list goes on. These titans are played by a talented ensemble who all give energetic performances that avoid impressionistic caricature. They inhabit legends, but are not limited by their status. Each actor strikes the right balance so that they can all throw one-liners, but not bravely enough to be free from all insecurity. After all, they’re not famous, yet.

Everyone gets a chance to shine outside of their expected comedic value, in some cases because of what we know about how their characters end up. Wood plays Belushi as an intense beast, addicted to drugs and scary to be around. Smith reveals a budding big head as Chase, using jokes as a wall to keep his own fear of failure hidden. The film knows that to shy away from these people’s flaws would be disingenuous, and would ultimately come off more as a commercial for SNL than a proper portrayal of young and hungry entertainers.

Reitman feels like the perfect fit for the director’s chair here. His father, Ivan Reitman, had a hand in many iconic comedies that would star SNL alumni (producing “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and directing “Ghostbusters,” among others). One has to wonder if he told his son about these performer’s behavior and lives off-camera, pulling back the curtain for him to see just how much nastiness can come with such a funny reputation.

After directing the two latest sequels in the “Ghostbusters” franchise, Reitman returns to his indie-roots. He captures an earnest look into the lives of these charming and flawed people. The script penned by him and co-producer Gil Kenan is sharp enough to cut yourself on, often hilarious but with moments of cruelty and melancholy. Amplified by the cast of (relative) newcomers, we get a sense that Reitman and Kenan genuinely want to help the next generation of talent get its foot in the door. The result is less a nostalgia trip and more of a passing of the torch. It’s the same thing SNL has fought so hard for over five decades.

It’s easy to dismiss the show based on juvenile sketches and floundering hosts, but think for a moment: Just how many of the world’s most famous comedians have found their success on “Saturday Night Live?” Among the stars to come include Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Michael Meyers, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell, Kristin Wiig; look at the full list of cast and writers and you’ll have half of modern comedy’s index. They’re all human beings, at once just a youth who was terrified to fail but eager to entertain. “Saturday Night” is the kind of throwback that reminded me of why I love going to the movies.

I recommend “Saturday Night” to everyone who has ever laughed, or cringed, at America’s sketch staple, as well as to those who love their comedies heated up in a pressure cooker. “Saturday Night” opens in theaters Friday, October 11.