Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
"One crazy night" buddy comedy has drugs, sex, swearing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
All Nighter
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In ALL NIGHTER, Martin (Emile Hirsch) snaps out of his post-break-up stupor when Frank (J.K. Simmons), the father of Martin's ex-girlfriend, Ginnie (Annaleigh Tipton), shows up at Martin's door three months after Ginnie left him. The two men had met once before, and it didn't go very well. (Martin made a tepid impression at best.) But now Frank can't reach his daughter, so the two of them spend the next 24 hours trying to track her down.
Is It Any Good?
Thanks to the chemistry between Hirsch and Simmons, this "one crazy night" comedy works. Watching the two of them make their way through this amusing, if not especially inspired, film -- a buddy comedy of sorts -- is lots of fun. But All Nighter's script is flabby, and the misadventures thrown the main characters' way aren't all that compelling. Plus, the conclusion to their heroes' journey, which was sparked by a seeming mystery (the sudden unreachability of Ginnie), ends up being much ado about nothing.
All Nighter has some interesting things to say about relationships and what we learn from them, as well as what friendship means in this too-busy, too-hectic world. But it says them in such an unassertive and not altogether convincing way that it feels quite lightweight. Still, see it for the two stars.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how All Nighter depicts drinking and drug use. Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
What about sex? What role does it play in the film? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How does this movie compare to other "one crazy night" films? Why do you think they're so popular? What does it take to make this genre work?
What do you think about the relationship between Martin and Frank? What makes them an "odd couple"? What do they learn from each other?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 17, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : June 6, 2017
- Cast : J.K. Simmons , Emile Hirsch , Analeigh Tipton , Taran Killam , Kristen Schaal
- Director : Gavin Wiesen
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Good Deed Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language throughout, sexual material, drug content and brief nudity
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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