The Night Before

As the snowflakes gently fell on Christmas Eve 2001, the lives of three friends - Ethan Miller (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac Greenberg (Seth Rogen), and Chris Roberts (Anthony Mackie) - were forever changed by tragedy. The sudden loss of Ethan's parents in a car accident brought his best friends together, forging an unbreakable bond that would only grow stronger over the years. Their annual tradition of gathering on Christmas Eve became a beacon of comfort and camaraderie in the face of adversity.

Fast-forward to 2008, when the trio stumbled upon a mysterious woman who regaled them with tales of the most unforgettable Christmas party - The Nutcracker Ball. Intrigued by her enchanting stories, they embarked on a quest to uncover the location of this mythical gathering, only to be met with repeated failures.

As the years went by, their lives took different paths. Chris's athletic prowess earned him fame and fortune as a professional football player (though his reliance on steroids would soon become a source of guilt), while Isaac settled down with his loving wife Betsy (Jillian Bell) and prepared for the arrival of their first child. Ethan, meanwhile, struggled to find his footing in the music industry, reeling from a recent breakup with Diana (Lizzy Caplan). To make ends meet, he donned an elf costume at a local hotel, where his boss Randall Park constantly berated him for not being festive enough.

One fateful evening, while tending to coats, Ethan stumbled upon three coveted tickets to The Nutcracker Ball hidden in the pocket of a coat. His excitement was short-lived, as the automated message on the ticket informed him that the location would only be revealed at 10:00 PM.

As Christmas Eve approached in 2015, Isaac found himself hosting a party for his wife's sister Cindy (Helene Yorke) and their friends. Ethan, already indulging in a few drinks, arrived early, eager to share his discovery with his friends. Chris and Isaac were torn between honoring their annual tradition and acknowledging the significant changes in their lives. Little did they know, Betsy had other plans for Isaac's evening, presenting him with a gift box overflowing with every type of illicit substance imaginable - a stark reminder that the party was just getting started.

As Chris, the newly-minted face of Red Bull, cruises around town with his entourage, they embark on a night of debauchery and revelry behind the wheel of a sleek limousine. The quartet pulls up to a majestic tree in the city, where Ethan proudly displays the tickets for their first stop: FAO Schwartz, a nostalgic destination reminiscent of Tom Hanks' iconic piano dance in "Big." As they prepare to get their groove on to Kanye West's hypnotic beats, Chris makes a call to his old football buddy Tommy Owens (Aaron Hill), who's attending The Nutcracker Ball. Chris requests that Tommy bring along some added ambiance, and the guys subsequently link up with their dealer, Mr. Green (Michael Shannon), outside their alma mater. As they acquire their desired substance, Mr. Green imparts some wisdom upon Chris, advising him to attend a party he's hosting later, with a special invitation for Isaac to join them.

Following this interlude, the trio heads to a local karaoke bar, where they don three festive sweaters at Ethan's behest and take to the stage to belt out "Christmas in Hollis" in perfect harmony. Upon arrival, they're greeted by Diana and her friend Sarah (Mindy Kaling), with whom Ethan awkwardly catches up while Isaac is lost in a haze of hallucinations courtesy of shrooms. As he struggles to regain his bearings, Isaac retreats to the bathroom to indulge in some cocaine and subsequently record a bizarre video expressing his anxiety about impending fatherhood. When he reemerges to converse with Sarah, he procures them drinks but unwittingly contaminates her beverage with a crimson droplet from his own nose, which commences to bleed profusely. Unaware of the contamination, Sarah takes a sip before Isaac's nose starts bleeding anew, prompting him to confess his coke-fueled indiscretion.

Meanwhile, outside the karaoke bar, Chris engages in a conversation with Rebecca (Ilana Glazer), a die-hard anti-Christmas fanatic who finds herself inexplicably drawn to Chris' charms. As their banter escalates into a romantic tryst in the bathroom, it becomes clear that this night will be one for the books.

As the evening wears on, Ethan (no actor name provided) takes another stab at deciphering the enigmatic party invitation, only to uncover the mysterious address etched onto the ticket's surface. Meanwhile, Chris (again, no actor name) is left reeling after realizing that his stash of weed has vanished into thin air - a discovery he attributes to Rebecca's thieving hands during their intimate encounter. The dynamic duo decides to pay Mr. Green another visit, this time at Chris's mother's residence, where they're forced to bide their time until the elusive figure materializes.

As the minutes tick by, Isaac and Chris retreat inside to indulge in some nostalgic N64 gaming, attempting to pass the time with quiet reverie. However, Isaac's excursion to retrieve the weed from his jacket pocket is interrupted by Mr. Green's unexpected arrival. The two of them share a doobie, and Isaac is treated to a surreal glimpse into his future - a vision that finds him and Betsy (Mrs. Roberts, played by Lorraine Toussaint) watching their 18-year-old daughter, Betsy, perform a sultry dance routine at a seedy strip club. The revelation sends Isaac's anxiety soaring as he grapples with the daunting prospect of fatherhood.

As the night wears on, Isaac's phone suddenly springs to life, shattering the peace with its jarring ringtone. Mrs. Roberts stirs from her slumber, and Isaac finds himself unwittingly hosting an impromptu breakfast buffet for his friends. Meanwhile, a series of bizarre events unfolds as Isaac's phone serves up a dick pic courtesy of James - a development that prompts a befuddled response before he realizes the mistake and frantically tries to rectify the situation.

The gravity of his predicament dawns on Isaac when he contemplates the fallout from Sarah discovering the compromising video he created. Chris, meanwhile, is offering words of wisdom to his mom (Mrs. Roberts), cautioning that Ethan's lingering affections for Diana make it an opportune moment for him to mend fences on Christmas.

As the night reaches its climax, Chris and Isaac spot Rebecca sauntering down the street and decide to give chase, convinced they can reclaim their weed and salvage what remains of their evening. However, a series of mishaps ensues as Chris's driver (Nathan Fielder) recklessly navigates the streets, culminating in a fender bender that leaves the limo in shambles.

Undeterred, the duo commandeers a nearby sleigh, only to find it shackled to a lamppost by an errant chain. The ensuing chaos sends them tumbling across the pavement, Isaac ending up tangled among cones as Chris gives chase after Rebecca. The pursuit culminates on the rooftop of a towering building, where Chris finally catches up with his quarry - only to be rebuffed and sent tumbling into a dumpster, courtesy of Rebecca's daring leap from the precipice.

As Isaac enters the sacred space of a church, he finds himself drawn to the nativity scene, striking up an unlikely conversation with the figurines. His encounter with Betsy's family yields an invitation to Midnight Mass, despite their awareness of Isaac's turbulent nature. As he becomes increasingly disoriented within the sanctuary, Isaac's perception blurs and he begins to hallucinate a baby's curses. The sight of Jesus on the cross sends him into a panic, convinced that the congregation is judging him for his Jewish heritage. Overwhelmed by nausea, Isaac flees the church, leaving behind a scene of chaos.

Meanwhile, Ethan roams the city streets alone, only to stumble upon two inebriated individuals (Jason Mantzoukas and Jason Jones) garbed as Santa Claus, indulging in a most unseasonable activity. Ethan's rebuke for their mockery of Christmas tradition leads to a confrontation, resulting in his disheveled departure from the scene.

As Isaac returns to the fold, he reunites with Sarah's phone, now freed from his possession. His discovery that Franco, the perpetrator of unsavory acts, is none other than James who sent those explicit images leaves him unsettled yet still intrigued by the possibility of sharing his own intimate moments with Franco.

Chris, meanwhile, encounters his football buddies at the party, only to find himself the subject of ridicule due to the viral video of him belting out a karaoke tune alongside Isaac and Ethan. The guys then procure entrance to the exclusive gathering through a secret passageway in a bodega.

As the night wears on, Ethan seizes an opportunity to enlist Miley Cyrus's aid in winning over Diana, leveraging her celebrity status as a fan. With Miley's consent, they take center stage, delivering a stirring rendition of "Wrecking Ball." Moved by the performance, Ethan takes his cue and delivers an impassioned speech to Diana, ultimately securing a reluctant yes to his proposal.

However, when he pulls Diana aside, she clarifies that their union is not binding and that he cannot rely on her as a safety net for his friends' tradition. The ambiguity leaves Ethan with more questions than answers, as the party rages on around him.

As the night wears on, Isaac's still reeling from the effects of his earlier indulgence. His careless actions lead to a series of unfortunate events, including accidentally impaling Tommy's hand with a broken glass decoration. When the group attempts to take matters into their own hands, Chris steps in and threatens to expose them all via his social media following. The situation becomes so volatile that security is eventually called to disperse the crowd.

Meanwhile, Ethan retreats to the rooftop, consumed by shame and regret. It's here that he encounters Mr. Green, the enigmatic host of the Nutcracker Ball, who offers him a chance to unwind with a joint. As they smoke, Ethan is transported back to his first Christmas Eve following the loss of his parents. Chris and Isaac had visited him at his home, seeking to lift his spirits, but instead found themselves bearing witness to Ethan's raw emotion as he broke down in tears. The shared experience brought them all together, a moment that still resonates deeply with Mr. Green.

The group eventually reunites, their earlier tensions forgotten in the face of morning's arrival. However, Isaac is soon jolted back into reality when he discovers 96 missed calls from Betsy. His anxiety grows as he receives another call, only to learn that it was a false alarm - she's not going into labor after all. The guys make their way to the hospital, commandeering Mr. Green's car along the way. But just as they arrive, Mr. Green suddenly decides he's earned his wings, which burst forth from his back, allowing him to take flight.

As Isaac joins Betsy at the hospital, he shows her the video he recorded earlier in the evening. Her laughter and admissions of shared trepidation about parenthood offer a glimmer of hope for their future as co-parents - even if Isaac's still tripping, he sees Betsy transformed into a majestic dragon.

The group spends Christmas at Isaac's family home, where Chris later meets with his mother to confess his steroid use. Ethan, meanwhile, heads to Diana's parents' house, apologizing for his earlier behavior and expressing his unpreparedness to take things seriously. Diana's warm reception and invitation to meet her parents mark a turning point in their relationship - one that culminates in a romantic kiss as they gaze out at the festive lights.

As the festive season unfolds, the tight-knit group of friends and their loved ones converge for a joyous Christmas celebration, one year on from the events that brought them together. Amidst the revelry, Isaac's tiny tot finds herself struggling to drift off to dreamland, prompting her doting companions to launch into an impromptu performance of the holiday classic "Christmas in Hollis". As they harmonize and croon, the baby's eyes light up with glee, and she begins to clap along in time, bringing a radiant smile to her parents' faces. With this heartwarming moment serving as the perfect denouement to their tale, we are treated to a charming full-circle conclusion. This narrative gem is brought to life through the pages of a treasured book, carefully read aloud by none other than Santa Claus (Tracy Morgan) himself. Seated amidst his merry band of elves and special guest Mr. Green - Santa's own son - the jolly old fellow decides it's time to spread some holiday cheer, kicking off a lively Christmas party that promises to be a night to remember.