1. This isn't your parents' Christmas story
Co-written and directed by Jonathan Levine, who grabbed people's attention with the urban indie "The Wackness" and found success with "Warm Bodies," this is a story catered to the late-twenties/early-thirties demo, people who are thinking about starting a family but still have the urge to go wild (and play the Nintendo 64 classic Bond videogame "GoldenEye") once in a while.
2. Run DMC's Christmas song gets respect
One of the joys of the film is its appreciation of a holiday classic like Run DMC's 1998 anthem "Christmas in Hollis." The three friends in the movie perform the song a couple of times in very different settings. In both instances it's perfect.
3. Ilana Glazer is the perfect Grinch
One half of the funniest duo on television, comic Ilana Glazer briefly parts from her "Broad City" pal Abbi Jacobson so she can make Mackie's life a living hell in the movie as the "Grinch" of the story.
4. Seth Rogen high is and always will be funny
Some of the funniest moments in the movie involve Rogen high on many different drugs. From hallucinations to weird text messages, Rogen can never straighten himself out, and it's great.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip Ad5. Karaoke anyone?
There's just something about grabbing a mic and acting foolishly in front of bar patrons that defines the holiday spirit. "The Night Before" highlights this as one of the guys' annual Christmas Eve traditions.
6. Miley Cyrus isn't the only great cameo in the movie
Miley Cyrus is fantastic during a pivotal moment in the film, but let's just say there are a couple other fun cameos under the Christmas tree that we won't spoil.
7. Jillian Bell is on another level
Every holiday comedy needs a character who's the moral center, and "Workaholics" star Jillian Bell is perfectly cast as that. She holds her own opposite the guys — it seems anything that comes out of her mouth is comic gold.
8. Michael Shannon is the movie's secret weapon
Do we really have to say more? Shannon's dry delivery is used gloriously as he plays a drug dealer/Christmas spirit.