Rough Night

Rough Night is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix and Stan, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 2,108 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for Scarlett Johansson — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Rough Night earns its spot. Rough Night does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. Five best friends from college reunite 10 years later for a wild bachelorette weekend in Miami. Their hard partying takes a hilariously dark turn when they accidentally kill a male stripper. Amidst the craziness of trying to cover it up, they're ultimately brought closer together when it matters most. The chemistry Scarlett Johansson and Jillian Bell bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. Rough Night came out in 2017. What keeps Rough Night from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Rough Night respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Scarlett Johansson is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.