THE NIGHT BEFORE
US, 1985, 85 minutes, Colour.
Keanu Reeves, Lori Loughlin, Theresa Saldana.
Directed by Thom Eberhardt.
The Night Before is an enjoyable youth caper. It starts mysteriously with a young man waking up in dress suit but not knowing where he is. Gradually his amnesia is cured as he tries to retrace the steps of the night before. It is like a juvenile version of Martin Scorsese's After flours where everything goes wrong during one night. (It is also reminiscent of Adventures in Babysitting.)
Keanu Reeves (Dangerous Liaisons, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure) is not as persuasive a nerd as the screenplay suggests. He suggests much more self-composure and control. However, he gives vigour to the central role. Lori Loughlin is the prom queen. They meet all kinds of adventures on the roads of Los Angeles during a prom night. Much of the film is quite amusing, the situations exaggerated but funny nonetheless.
The film was co-written and directed by Thom Eberhardt, writer and director of the Sherlock Holmes parody Without a Clue.
1. Enjoyable youth comedy, nightmare?
2. A night in Los Angeles, the streets, seedy apartment, the brothel, the nightclub? Musical score?
3. The structure of the film: Winston waking up, amnesia, his adventures, his memories? The build-up to the climax? And the cover tip for Tara's father?
4. The puzzle, Winston, his situation, searching for Tara? The range of adventures that lie experienced? Waking up: trying to get his memory, association of places, getting his car back and its being stolen? His memory of getting ready to go out, his family, going to get Tara, her father, Lisa? Driving, showing off, getting lost? The money and being mugged? The seedy part of Los Angeles? The bar, the hooker, his drinking and drugs, the effect on him, the dance and the takeover, speech, confrontation with Tito, selling Tara for S1500 and then the search for her? His waking up, meeting Rhonda, finding out what had happened to Tara, the muggers and everybody frightened of Tito, the black man who took him hostage, in the van with the toys, his escape, his using the money to get to Tara, the man in the truck, the man with the clothes, the ghetto-blaster? His getting to the brothel, the girl with the dress, his going to fat Jack, in the hotel, attacking Jack, rescuing Tara, her carryon, as hostage, the chase in his car? Getting her home to Lisa's, sawing off the handcuffs, and then meeting her again and telling her father that. she was spoilt? The young man considered a nerd, his handling of the evening, his control? The happy ending?
5. Tara as the prom queen? Her bet with Lisa, getting dressed, her hold over her fattier? her criticising of Winston, in the club, dancing and humiliated, sold, in the boot of the car, at the brothel, Winston rescuing her, with
the bedstead, the confrontation with the gang, the escape in the car, getting her home? Her telling her father about the phone call? Winston telling her that she was spoilt, concerned only about popularity, looks and credit cards? Her growing up?
6. Rhonda, the club, friendly with Winston, meeting him again, the warnings, her night being spoilt by Fat Jack falling through the roof?
7. The car thief and his taking the car, turning up at the end, the muggers wanting the money, Tito and the selling of Tara, the final confrontation, Cueball and his buying Tara, the people of the brothel, Fat Jack and his ugliness, the stairs and falling through the floor? The blacks at the toy shop and taking Winston hostage?
8. Winston and the money, his giving it away so, that he could disguise himself and track down Tara?
9. The sketch of the father, the policeman, concerned about his daughter, the confrontation with Winston, agreeing that his daughter was spoilt?
10. Lisa and her friendship, the bet, the morning after, Tara telling her she was spoilt?
11. The world of boys and girls, looks, popularity and credit cards? Adventures and nightmare? The truth and growing up? A comic look at youth?
