Dan Aykroyd Calls ‘Saturday Night’ Movie a “Stand-Alone Masterpiece”
Dan Aykroyd has officially given Saturday Night his stamp of approval.
The actor and original Saturday Night Live castmember took to X, formerly Twitter, on Friday to share his thoughts on director Jason Reitman’s latest film, which centers on the 90 minutes leading up to the sketch comedy show’s first broadcast in 1975.
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“Cracking a Head to applaud Jason Reitman’s triumphant SNL film. Wow!” Aykroyd wrote after watching the movie at his local theater. “What a propulsive, engaging, funny, beautifully cast and acted, suspenseful, adventurous, music-filled ride. A perfect window into the creative process at its highest level. Pretty accurate too.”
The Ghostbusters actor continued, “I was there that night and got to relive it wonderfully again. Congratulations Gil, Jason and Blumie. Don’t miss it whether you know the show or not. It is a stand-alone masterpiece and surefire candidate for Best Picture.”
Saturday Night takes place on Oct. 11, 1975, the day SNL premiered, and follows a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers who change television forever. Dylan O’Brien plays Aykroyd, alongside Gabriel LaBelle (Lorne Michaels), Rachel Sennott (Rosie Shuster), Cory Michael Smith (Chevy Chase), Ella Hunt (Gilda Radner), Emily Fairn (Laraine Newman), Matt Wood (John Belushi), Lamorne Morris (Garrett Morris), Kim Matula (Jane Curtin), Nicholas Braun (Andy Kaufman) and Andrew Barth Feldman (Neil Levy).
Reitman previously told The Hollywood Reporter that finding the movie’s Aykroyd was the most difficult, saying, “It was genuinely scary.” The filmmaker said the actor had a “very unique sex appeal,” so when he learned that “there was an appreciation of Dylan O’Brien” among women, Reitman knew he found the right guy for the role.
Aykroyd also noted on social media that he was “excited to see how Jason’s hilarious yet suspenseful story turned out” because he was the “only original crew member who had a chance to read the script.”
Saturday Night is currently playing in theaters.
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