About Last Night (2014)
TOMATOMETER
Critics Consensus: About Last Night wanders even further from the David Mamet play that inspired the original, but it benefits from an engaging cast and a screenplay that smartly balances romance and comedy.
Critics Consensus: About Last Night wanders even further from the David Mamet play that inspired the original, but it benefits from an engaging cast and a screenplay that smartly balances romance and comedy.
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Movie Info
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. (c) Screen Gems- Rating:
- R (for sexual content, language and brief drug use)
- Genre:
- Comedy , Romance
- Directed By:
- Steve Pink
- Written By:
- David Mamet , Leslye Headland
- In Theaters:
- Feb 14, 2014 Wide
- On DVD:
- May 19, 2014
- US Box Office:
- $48.6M
Cast
-
Kevin Hart
as Bernie -
Michael Ealy
as Danny -
Regina Hall
as Joan -
Joy Bryant
as Debbie -
Christopher McDonald
as Casey McNeil -
Paula Patton
as Alison
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Critic Reviews for About Last Night
All Critics (92) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (29)
On paper, About Last Night is a third-generation copy of David Mamet's 1974 stage play Sexual Perversity in Chicago -- but if anything... it comes closer to Mamet's rancorous vision of dueling hormones than the '80s screen version did.
While this version lacks the subtlety of the original, it delivers enough raunchy humor to be far more entertaining.
The 2014 model of About Last Night... it beefs up the girl-side element of the story, incorporates considerably more frank sex talk, and generally provides its cast with a lot more meat to chew on and spit back out.
Mostly, Hart aces his many showcase moments, not so much stealing the movie as occasionally letting the other actors possess it for a while.
Neither director Steve Pink nor screenwriter Leslye Headland put much effort into basic storytelling.
his film has the looseness of a movie made of outtakes -- but they mostly work, and they mostly involve Hall and Hart. They're the undercard that takes over the movie.
This must be why I'm single. Who wants to be with a guy who looks forward to the complications a significant other will add to my life? Why can't you complain your girlfriend, Fred?
Hart and Hall are downright lovable, their individual live wire comic energies even further elevated in the face of a formidable foil--and that resulting charge also translates into an appropriately volatile and exciting erotic electricity.
The main problem here is the less-than-convincing nature of Danny and Debbie's squabbles...
A remake in name only, "About Last Night" is a poorly directed series of Kevin Hart skits with an occasional emotional moment somehow finding its way onto the screen.
This version neither fizzes nor sparkles, but may prove a painless enough experience -- if you're unfamiliar with the original.
When your intention was always to use the cookie cutter, why bother nodding the head towards any largely imagined inspiration?
A date movie that could have been written by entertainment software, and quite divorced from real human beings and their experiences of sex.
The film's limp and bedraggled. No one looks good in it. You wonder if Mamet would even recognise what he once wrote.
It becomes a bit repetitive but has an energy missing from many romantic comedies plus some proper laughs.
The haunting sounds emanating from Kevin Hart taint this watered-down and glossy reinterpretation of a 1974 David Mamet play.
Ealy and Bryant make for a bland couple and during the more weighty stuff appear to be just going through the motions.
It's raunchier than its '86 counterpart, but still not much of a turn-on.
Drops enough kernels of hard truth into the romcom popcorn box to break a tooth or two.
Regina Hall and Kevin Hart steal the movie from the "stars" and keep the laughs coming
Hart's big personality, wit bolster 'About Last Night'
Sexy, witty and romantic, 'About Last Night' is a remake of the 1986 Edward Zwick film adapted from David Mamet's 'Sexual Perversity in Chicago,' a stage play. The 1986 movie and this one both are rated R, but this one has more steam in its dialogue.
The new About Last Night clearly wants to honor the old, [but] it needs to embrace the new more often.
a well-made film with the new script adapted perfectly to its cast
Plenty smart and entertaining, and in an era where cinematic romances tend to wade in the shallow end of the pool, that's a notable accomplishment.
There probably weren't a lot of people clamoring for an About Last Night remake, but this one is fresh enough to hold up well on its own.
Audience Reviews for About Last Night
An average remake where the two leads try their best but don't have enough charm or good chemistry to make us care (especially when most of the conflicts feel artificial), and they get, alas, overshadowed by Hart and Hall as the intrusive comic relief secondary characters.
MoreSuper Reviewer
The original 1986 film, of the same name, was much more dramatic and intent on analyzing the dysfunction and hypocrisy in relationships, and their inane pitfalls. This remake is much raunchier, placing an emphasis more on its supporting characters, and also still showing the problems with rushing into relationships. The cast is perfectly put together for this film, relying on Michael Ealy and Joy Bryant for a massive dose of chemistry. Regina Hall is an amazing comedic actress who is given a lot to work with and hits it out of the park, bringing an irresistible flavor to this film. This, of course, is the year of Kevin Hart, who steals the show time and again in over the top, hilarious scenes. There's very little good or bad to say about this romantic drama other than it's very funny, but the relationship portrayed is still boring and soapy to watch in between the funny bits.
MoreSuper Reviewer
If the chemistry these actors share does not make you smile, then I don't know what will. Kevin Hart and Michael Ealy are so believable as best friends it is not even funny, and they are funny as hell in these roles. I feel like I enjoyed this film much more than I should have, but sometimes a movie can do that to you. This is a very solid romantic comedy that I did not expect to work so well. Falling in love, growing apart and seeing where things go from there has been done in so many films before, but the script is well-written and actually cares about it's characters, and there wasn't really a time I found myself rolling my eyes. Overall, "About Last Night" is a romantic comedy I can easily watch more than once. Is it amazing? No, but it does everything you want it to and you will probably laugh pretty hard throughout it as well. It's not just your average chick flick, but it is a film that single men, single women, and couples can all enjoy. Definitely recommended, because there are very few good films left in this genre, and this being one of them.
MoreSuper Reviewer
It's about compromise. It's about love. It's about a good wingman.
Good Romantic Comedy! Kevin Hart's level of comedy is one you either get or you don't get. If you don't get it, then you'll still like this film because he isn't really the central character. This movie is written as a romantic comedy, but I saw much more romantic than comedy, but was funny enough nonetheless. I took away three main things from the film. First was that alcohol isn't necessary to have a good time with someone. Second, sex isn't the only factor a relationship should be based on, and finally; communication, trust, and loyalty are paramount in any relationship, including friendships.
Follow two couples as they journey from the bar to the bedroom and are eventually put to the test in the real world.
Super Reviewer
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