Plot: What’s it about?
Dan (Emilio Estevez) is having a bad night, but he figures things just can’t get much worse. He was dumped by his wife and has nowhere to go, as well as few friends he could call to keep him company. After several failed attempts to find someone to spend time with, he ends up going out into the Los Angeles night alone, which might not be such a smart idea after all. Soon however he meets up with Jeff (Steven Webber), an old friend who seems hell bent on making sure Dan has the best time of his life. No matter what it takes, Jeff is convinced he can turn Dan’s depression into happiness, he just isn’t sure how. The two chill with some good looking girls, have some drinks, come into contact with narcotics, witness some bizarre happenings, go to a rave and dance, and just about everything else you can imagine. But even with all these events swimming in Dan’s head, will he be able to move on and not be so depressed all the time?
This disc sports a cover that mimics Swingers, but don’t let that lead you down the wrong path. Late Last Night does follow some friends and their adventures in the evening, but that is about all the two films have in common. This movie sports a much darker tone in terms of comedy, which I think is good and it seems work very well in the end. This film also doesn’t struggle to sound cool and hip, which also shoots some points in its favor, if you ask me. I was surprised at how well the low profile cast performed and the writing was also up to the task, which means well written characters performed in fine form. The storyline can become a little out there at times, but I think you’ll be laughing too much to really notice. I wasn’t sure what this movie was going to do for me, but I am very pleased with it and I am glad I took the time to check it out. I’ve also seen the film a few times now and can tell you, it stands up well to repeat performances. I give this film a good recommendation, so if you’re looking for an offbeat comedy, then Late Last Night is well worth a look.
The name will all the ink here is Emilio Estevez, who doesn’t see much serious action since The Mighty Ducks ended their franchise run. He does get some smaller roles here and there, but it is good to see him in the driver’s seat in Late Last Night. As usual, Estevez is more than solid in his role, giving it much more depth than you might expect. He works with the comedic material very well, but also manages to bring across the depression and pain within his character. You don’t often see that in comedies like this, so I think Estevez deserves some bonus points on that front. Other films with Estevez include Repo Man, The Mighty Ducks, Maximum Overdrive, The Breakfast Club, Freejack, Men At Work, and Mission: Impossible. The cast also includes such performers as Kelly Rowan (Three To Tango, Assassins), Leah Lail (Heavyweights, Little Nicky), Bobby Edner (The Muse), Katie Wright (Idle Hands, It’s Pat), Lisa Robin Kelly (Jawbreaker, Payback), and Steven Webber (Single White Female, Tv’s Wings). The writer and director here is Steven Brill, who also served as writer on such films as The Mighty Ducks, Heavyweights, Little Nicky, and Ready To Rumble.
Video: How does it look?
Late Last Night is presented in a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. This is a very good overall transfer, though some small issues keep the score down in the end. The contrast looks good throughout, but a few darker scenes have more than a little grain, which isn’t cool. This is never to an extreme degree, but I still think it should be mentioned in this review. The colors look natural and consistent also, I saw no bleeds or smears and the flesh tones appear normal as well. I didn’t detect much in terms of compression flaws either, this is a fine visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 option, though your system won’t be pushed much by this material. This movie is reliant on dialogue most of the time, which means your speakers won’t be shaking the windows much. The vocals sound good though, no volume problems surface and the clarity level is high at all times. I think the sound effects come off well also, some nice subtle surround use is tossed in at times, which adds some needed depth to the audio experience. The music comes across in fine form as well, using the surrounds to maximize the effectiveness. The disc also houses a 2.0 surround track, English captions, and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I was pleased to find an audio commentary track on this disc, which features writer/director Steven Brill. The track has some good information within it, but Brill is relaxed and that means it never becomes dull or lacking. I think it is a nice blend of information and humor, which fits this film quite well in the end. You’ll also find some talent files, the film’s trailer, and a short behind the scenes featurette on this disc.
