Scarlett Johansson is one of the leading action stars today thanks to her roles in high-profile projects like Lucy, Ghost in the Shell, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the actress has demonstrated time and time again she can handle genre fare with ease, she's balanced her tentpole commitments with some smaller scale films as well. In recent years, she's lent her talents to movies like Don Jon, Her, and Chef, showcasing a wide range. As audiences wait for Black Widow to return in Avengers: Infinity War, they can see Johansson in this summer's comedy, Rough Night.
In the film, Johansson stars as Jess, a woman who heads down to Miami to celebrate her bachelorette party with her friends. The ensemble is a who's who of heavy hitters, including Kate McKinnon, Zoe Kravitz, Jillian Bell, and Ilana Glazer. Sony has just released a red band trailer for Rough Night (watch it above), which illustrates that this is not your typical "girls night out" comedy. Something a little more sinister is afoot.
The preview follows a traditional formula for its first half, setting up the basic premise and character dynamics, complete with foul language and drug use as the ladies gear up for a crazy night. In typical bachelorette party fashion, Jess' friends pay for a male stripper to put on a show for them, only things don't exactly go according to plan. In a freak accident, the man is killed, and now the five women have to figure out a way to deal with their situation.
Rough Night is the feature film debut of director Lucia Aniello, who has helmed several episodes of the acclaimed series Broad City. It's safe to say she's working in her element, and it will be interesting to see how her talent translates from the small screen to the movie theater. Aniello is collaborating with a very skilled cast (including Broad City star Glazer), which should certainly help matters. Johansson is a more than capable leading lady, and both Bell and McKinnon have stolen scenes in projects such as 22 Jump Street and Ghostbusters. If the footage in the trailer is any indication, they should make for a strong group to watch and constantly deliver the laughs.
Paul Feig's Oscar-nominated Bridesmaids is an obvious influence for Rough Night, but there are also traces of the original Hangover's DNA here. The central conflict reads as a far more darker version of that story; when Doug went missing, there was at least the possibility he was still alive, but the stripper is dead. Whether Rough Night can stand out on its own or be overshadowed by similar titles remains to be seen, but the preview has done its job and piqued the interest of viewers. Many will be curious to see what becomes of the partying girls, which should lead to a nice box office haul.
Source: Sony