The Night Before

The Night Before follows Walter Stucki (played by Tony Revolori), a young Christian whose father (played by Matt Walsh) makes Walter promise to remain chaste before his wedding day by not indulging in any excessive behaviors. On the other hand, his groomsmen are three childhood friends, Ethan (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Seth (played by Seth Rogen), and Isaac (played by Anthony Mackie), known for their raunchy escapades on Christmas Eve every year. As Walter's wedding is drawing near, his friends are aware that this will be their last Christmas Eve together. Feeling nostalgic for the good old days, they embark on a mission to find "The MacLaren's Cup" – a mythical, secret party that only takes place once a year on Christmas Eve in New York City. Each friend is tasked to bring one item – a bottle of the finest whiskey, a box of Cuban cigars, and the rarest Christmas tree ornaments. After completing their assigned tasks, the friends head off in search of the elusive party. Upon reaching the designated bar location, they discover that this specific location might be a hoax and decide to explore further. The friends soon discover that each item they brought has a symbolic significance in relation to their lives, with the whiskey representing reckless abandon, the cigars symbolizing the fragility of life, and the ornaments representing the memories from their childhood. Their journey is not just about finding the Holy Grail of Christmas parties but is a metaphorical search for the truth about their friendship and a means of letting go their carefree youth. Their wild quest takes them across the streets of Manhattan, where they run-in with the NYPD and get caught up in a series of hilarious misadventures. They also run into the eccentric and endearing Father Gregory (played by Lizzy Caplan), a nun who is struggling with the idea of God, while at the same time trying to find the mythical party. Their friendship is put to the test, as they navigate their way through the city, and confront their personal issues as they near Walter's wedding day. Their search leads them to many interesting locations, such as a speakeasy, and, in the end, they find that the real "MacLaren's Cup" might not be about the location but about the friendship and the memories that they made together. The movie has a beautiful ending where Walter and his friends share a Christmas toast, reflecting on the past, embracing the present, and looking forward to the future. It portrays that as long as you hold on to the good memories, and the people that bring joy to your life, nothing can be taken away from you.