Saturday Night movie reviews suggest the film lives up to its source material

The making of Saturday Night Live sounds like a good idea for a documentary, a book, or even a podcast. But a movie? It sounds like a stretch, but if the early reviews are any indication, Saturday Night exceeds expectations.

The Jason Reitman-directed film examines the chaos backstage just hours before the first-ever Saturday Night Live episode in 1975. The October 11 release date couldn't come at a better time as SNL prepares to launch its mind-boggling 50th season on the air.

Reitman's move attempts to capture the shaky foundation on which SNL was built, bringing the audience along for the ride with comedy icons like Lorne Michaels, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and more. It's a reminder while the show is now an institution and a staple of pop culture, there was a time where it was set up to fail.

Rotten Tomatoes released the first batch of Saturday Night reviews, and things are looking fresh. The movie currently stands at 83% Fresh after 11 reviews.

Critics praised Reitman's work behind the camera, bringing humor to the story, and setting the frantic pace. The director also received credit for casting the movie, matching the actors' energies to that of the original 1975 Saturday Night Live cast.

The cast of Saturday Night also made a strong impression on critics. Gabrielle LaBelle's portrayal of Lorne Michaels earned applause as the film's centerpiece. Another critic pointed out that the ensemble cast (with more than 80 speaking parts) managed to hit its mark throughout the movie.

However, it wasn't all positive in the first round of Saturday Night reviews. Stephen Farber of The Hollywood Reporter felt the riffs didn't land, and IndieWire's David Ehrlich called out the lack of character development while suggesting that a more deeper SNL knowledge is expected of casual moviegoers.

Fans can make up their own minds when Saturday Night arrives in theaters on October 11. The 50th season of Saturday Night Live stars on September 28.