Street Reveries: A Night of Laughs and Lapses

Alright, so let’s talk “Amateur Night.” It’s a film where Jason Biggs—yes, the pie guy from “American Pie”—throws himself into the deep end of the absurdity pool. Directed by Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse, it’s a madcap adventure through the streets of L.A., tinged with the kind of chaos that only an evening with amateur, more-than-vaguely-concerning taxi gigs can provide.

Now, whenever I see a movie that’s supposed to be comedy yet dabbles in crazy nights with cars and misunderstandings, I’m kind of reminded of that one New Year’s Eve in Stockholm. I got stuck in a snowstorm, wearing a ridiculous hat, trying to help a tourist find the Nobel Museum and we both ended up at a nightclub instead. But hey, life’s unpredictable, right?

Biggs plays a hapless dad-to-be turned chauffeur-for-hire, stumbling into a gig driving a group of… well, let’s say “colorful” characters led by Ashley Tisdale. She’s got a presence in roles that’s both charming and more than a tad mischievous. Directors Addario and Syracuse seem to embody that same mischievous spirit in their storytelling, borrowing humor from life’s awkward ruptures.

The film’s vibe kinda skews between indie charm and those over-the-top narratives Hollywood sometimes serves up, which surprisingly work here. To be honest, there were bits that felt silly, maybe a little predictable, but they somehow reminded me of that time my friend Jonathan insisted I test his IKEA sofa’s indestructibility. Spoiler: it was not indestructible.

What’s genuinely intriguing—and somewhat heartwarming—about “Amateur Night” is how it subtly juggles themes like ambition, family, and the eternal hustle. So while it may not be a cinematic masterpiece destined to rival Ingmar Bergman, it’s got heart and offers a loud, laugh-out-loud distraction from dreary Tuesday evenings.

In the end, it’s the kind of flick you watch with friends, chuckle, and then spend half the night debating whether you’d take on such crazy gigs if life threw them at you. Maybe just with less snow, eh?

Check the trailer below