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Parents' Guide to

Opening Night

By Frannie Ucciferri, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Uneven backstage Broadway comedy has sex, swearing.

Movie NR 2017 90 minutes
Opening Night Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

Xeanibean
Xeanibean Parent
June 23, 2018
age 18+

Great movie for musical theater living adults.

This is a fun, but very adult comedy with one hit wonder songs and tongue in cheek jokes. I enjoyed it as someone who enjoys the actors and actresses involved with this film, as well as a musical theater enthusiast. Teens may like the film, but you’ll need to make sure that you’re ok with your teens handling sexual scenes and adult humor.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Nick (Topher Grace) is a Broadway stage manager getting ready for the OPENING NIGHT of his new show: One Hit Wonderland. The musical stars the "other guy" from NSYNC (JC Chasez, playing himself) and Brooke (Anne Heche), a washed up aging actress, as well as Nick's ex-girlfriend, Chloe (Alona Tal), as a chorus girl. When an incident with some giant chopsticks leaves Brooke concussed right as the show is about to start, Chloe must rise to the occasion and take her place. The only problem for Nick is that he still has feelings for Chloe, even after breaking up with her a year ago, and he's still obsessing over his own opening-night mishaps as an actor several years earlier. Meanwhile, two performers -- Malcolm (Taye Diggs) and Brandy (Lesli Margherita) -- are in the middle of a competition backstage to see who can seduce the new bisexual dancer, the props guy who's supposed to be watching Brooke loses her in the pit, the assistant stage manager can't speak, and, despite everything going wrong backstage, it's Nick's job to keep it all together. After all, the show must go on.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This movie's raunchy jokes and self-referential commentary about theater and "one-hit wonders" aren't funny enough to carry it. What could have been an interesting concept falls flat in Opening Night. The characters break out into popular one-hit wonders both onstage and off, but the purposefully hokey musical numbers aren't as charming offstage. And straight-faced Nick, who proclaims that he hates Broadway, is out of place among the over-the-top, overly dramatic performers he's supposed to be wrangling. Unlike true musicals, where no one questions when the characters break into song, Nick does question it (and often), making it unclear whether we're supposed to embrace the wacky weirdness or mock it.

There are some funny moments, especially in the side plot with Malcolm and Brandy, though their scenes rely a lot on sexual humor. There are also some fun references to NSYNC thanks to JC Chasez, who plays a tongue-in-cheek caricature of a former star. But the relationship between Nick and Chloe, which is supposed to be the heart of the story, comes up lacking. And the movie's messages about seizing opportunities and taking risks -- for Chloe onstage and for Nick offstage -- don't seem that inspiring. Avid theater fans might enjoy a look behind the curtain, but overall, this not-quite-spoof falls short.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the message of seizing opportunities and taking risks in Opening Night. Why can't Nick seem to let go of his mistakes and stage fright? Does Chloe help him, or does she have the same fears? Would things have gone differently if either had more courage?

  • How much sexual content in media is appropriate for kids and teens? Was the competition between Malcolm and Brandy appropriate or fair? Did they take their flirting too far when they groped the new dancer?

  • What role does drug use play in the story? Is it glamorized? Are there consequences? Why is that important?

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