SXSW Review: Saturday Night

Score:B+

Director:James Franco

Cast:John Malkovich, Bill Hader, Will Forte, Andy Samberg, Kristen Wiig

Running Time:94 Minutes

Rated:NR

"˜Saturday Night Live.' It has found a home within our world of pop culture for the better part of three decades. It has spawned such talent as Mike Myers, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Chevy Chase. But most importantly, it has stayed fresh, fun and downright hilarious "“ which begs the question: Just where do they come up with this kind of stuff?

Though the answer seems to be looking you dead in the face, James Franco is out to prove that no matter the talent or skill, "˜SNL' is a work of genius. In his new documentary, Saturday Night, Franco takes cameras where they have never been before: tracking the progress of a single episode from initial meeting on Monday morning to live airing at 11:30 PM Saturday night. It is a hilarious ride through heaven and hell; one that makes you wonder when the cast ever finds time to sleep.

Let it be known that I am not a huge "˜SNL' fan. So, in a way, I am not the target market for James Franco's debut into the world of documentary filmmaking. However, with that said, I can say that I still found Saturday Night to be both enjoyable and informative.

Seeing the cast dedicate all their time and effort into a series of skits, most of which will never see the light of day, is not only impressive, but also admirable. The table readings, the producer meetings, and the awkward requests for co-writers give the show a high school type feel, creating yet another layer of humor to the already stacked show.

To a big fan of the show, my B+ rating will likely feel a bit low"”with good reason. The documentary is well made, entertaining and relies heavily on the humor associated with a guest star like John Malkovich. I don't think we would have seen the same documentary if it had been taped one week later when Hugh Laurey was serving as guest host"”but that we will unfortunately never know.

As it stands right now, Saturday Night is an intriguing look into the world of one of pop culture's most mystifying success stories. For me, it is a great one-time watch. For others, I can see it being a Saturday night ritual.

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About Stephen Davis

Stephen Davis
I owe this hobby/career to the one and only Stephanie Peterman who, while interning at Fox, told me that I had too many opinions and irrelevant information to keep it all bottled up inside. I survived my first rated R film, Alive, at the ripe age of 8, it took me months to grasp the fact that Julia Roberts actually died at the end of Steel Magnolias, and I might be the only person alive who actually enjoyed Sorority Row…for its comedic value of course. While my friends can drink you under the table, I can outwatch you when it comes iconic, yet horrid 80s films like Adventures in Babysitting and Troop Beverly Hills. I have no shame when it comes to what I like, and if you have a problem with that, then we’ll settle it on the racquetball court. I see too many movies to actually win any film trivia contest, so don’t waste your first pick on me. My friends rent movies from my bookcase shelves, and one day I do plan to start charging. I long to live in LA, where my movie obsession will actually help me fit in, but for now I am content with my home in Austin. I prefer indies to blockbusters, Longhorns to Sooners and Halloween to Friday the 13th. I miss the classics, as well as John Ritter, and I hope to one day sit down and interview the amazing Kate Winslet.

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