The Pre-Drink

In the midst of Dean Pizzaferado's upcoming nuptials, his world is about to be turned upside down. As a devoted best man, Dean is responsible for ensuring the happiness of his groom, who is also his long-time friend. Little does Dean know, a pivotal night is about to unfold, one that will expose the true depths of his friendships and put everything to the test. It all begins with a seemingly innocuous event. Dean's two best friends, Alex and Jake, have had a falling out, and tensions are running high. As Dean tries to intervene, he realizes that a night out could be just what they need to clear the air and mend their differences. Thus, he suggests they start the evening with a couple of drinks at a nearby bar, in the hopes that a few rounds will ease the animosity between them. However, as the night wears on, it becomes apparent that this isn't just any ordinary evening. Alex and Jake have been harboring secrets that threaten to jeopardize their friendship forever. As they take one drink after another, the facade of their friendship begins to crumble, revealing hidden truths and unresolved conflicts. Dean's primary objective is to keep the peace and maintain the status quo, all while navigating this treacherous terrain. But as the alcohol starts to take hold, he finds himself caught in a precarious balancing act. His friends' increasingly erratic behavior forces Dean to confront the possibility that things might not get back to normal, at least not before his wedding. One of the initial revelations that shakes Dean to his core involves Alex, who has been keeping a profound secret from the rest of the group. It turns out that Alex has been struggling to make ends meet and is on the verge of losing his job. This bombshell sets off a chain reaction, as Jake becomes defensive and begins to question why Alex has been so tight-lipped about his predicament. Meanwhile, the tension between the three friends continues to escalate. Jake begins to open up, sharing a deep-seated insecurity that has been festering beneath the surface. According to Jake, he feels like an afterthought in their friendship, a sentiment that cuts Dean to the quick. As the night wears on, Dean finds himself torn between his loyalty to each man, feeling as though he's caught in the middle of a toxic game of cat and mouse. As one drink after another flows, the stakes grow higher, and the group's collective behavior becomes more erratic. In a moment of desperation, Dean turns to an unconventional source of support – the bartender. Over a late-night whiskey, she offers some much-needed wisdom, sharing her own story about navigating difficult friendships. Her advice strikes a chord, and for the first time, Dean begins to realize that he may have been taking his friendships for granted. Just as Dean, Alex, and Jake are on the cusp of coming to terms with their differences, things take a dramatic turn. An unfortunate incident involving an impromptu karaoke performance, a shattered glass, and an unfortunate public display of affection sends the evening plummeting into chaos. The damage is done, and in a flash, their years-long bond is reduced to its bare essentials. In the aftermath of this fateful night, Dean is left grappling with a painful realization: his friends may not be the people he thought they were. As he reflects on the events of the evening, he is faced with an uncomfortable truth – the friendships he once took for granted may not be as strong as he had assumed. This somber epiphany comes just hours before he is set to marry the love of his life, forcing Dean to confront the uncertain future that lies ahead. Ultimately, "The Pre-Drink" serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and imperfections of close relationships. Through Dean's misadventures, the film showcases the fragility of human bonds and the importance of acknowledging the hidden truths that underpin even the strongest of friendships.