A Night at the Roxbury
Common Sense says
- PG-13
- 1998
- 81 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this comedy is based on an incredibly lowbrow sketch following two club-going brothers who bob their heads, bump into and harass women, and have no greater goal than to make it past the velvet rope at the Roxbury nightclub. As with most broad comedies, there are close-ups of cleavage and sex (or lack thereof) jokes in several scenes. It's not the base potty humor of similar comedies, but it's dumbed-down comedy that's a better fit for teens than tweens.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Cult classic
Funny but not great comedy is very raunchy
What's the story?
Adapted from the recurring sketch featuring Will Ferrell and and Chris Kattan as head-bobbing club regulars who bump and grind against unsuspecting women and dance to the Haddaway song "What Is Love," A NIGHT AT THE ROXBURY follows the goofball brothers Doug and Steve Butabi after they leave the club. The brothers work for their father (the always funny Dan Hedaya) in the family-run silk-flower shop. Without any serious aspirations beyond clubbing, the clueless duo bumbles around trying and failing to get into the Roxbury. Thanks to the help of Richard Grieco (the brothers' apparent idol), the Butabi brothers finally make it past the Roxbury bouncer and even meet its owner, a wisely uncredited Chazz Palminteri. For once, the Butabis show some pluck and spark the owner's interest in their ideas to improve the club.
Is it any good?
The plot is completely inane and exists solely to set up Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan's gags. Anyone who remembers the release of the Julia Sweeney movie It's Pat knows that comedies based on regular Saturday Night Live sketches rarely turn out as good as Wayne's World. Roxbury, Ferrell and Kattan's entry into the SNL-flick genre, is no exception. While no doubt Ferrell's immense popularity might make this oldie worth watching, anyone else will want their rental fee returned.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the Butabi brothers' quest to get into the Roxbury. On what basis do clubgoers get let in? Are they superficial reasons? Saturday Night Live fans can discuss the best movies based on an SNL sketch. Does this one make the grade? Despite both being long-time members of the cast, Will Ferrell has become a much bigger movie star than Chris Kattan. Who are the most talented comedians to "graduate" from SNL?
Movie details
- In theaters: October 2, 1998
- On DVD or streaming: April 20, 1999
- Cast: Chris Kattan, Molly Shannon, Will Ferrell
- Director: John Fortenberry
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 81 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sex related humor, language and some drug content
- Last updated: September 21, 2019
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