In 2011, director Jonathan Levine (The Wackness) teamed with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen to bring us the phenomenal cancer dramedy 50/50. This holiday, they’ve re-teamed to bring us The Night Before, a Christmas-themed story of three friend’s holiday tradition - and while it’s not anywhere near as great as 50/50, it still resonates as a heartfelt, raunchy Christmas comedy.

The Night Before gives us the 15th year of an annual tradition - long-time friends Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Issac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) have always spent Christmas Eve together, a bond created after Ethan’s parents died. Now, the gentlemen are older and wiser - Issac’s about to be a father, Chris is a big-time football player, and the time has arrived for one last blow out.

I wouldn’t blame you if after seeing the trailers for The Night Before, you considered it a Christmas-themed offshoot of The Hangover. In some ways it shares a similar DNA. There’s raunchy humor, there’s drugs, there’s absolutely ridiculous situations. But what is truly surprising is the weight and heart of the film. Without spoiling too much, the film adds necessary depth to the three friends. You can figure that from the origins of their holiday tradition, Ethan, Issac and Chris have bigger things on their mind, and they really do - and the movie handles each bump and bruise with surprising maturity, even if its then tempered with a dick or weed joke.

A key to the film is the chemistry, and thankfully, our three leads have it. Rogen and Gordon-Levitt continue the great relationship they had on-screen in 50/50, and Anthony Mackie shows strong comedic chops here - it’s nice to see him in a comedic role, and I hope he gets to shine in another soon. They’re surrounded by a great supporting cast, as well, including Workaholics’ Jillian Bell as Issac’s pregnant wife, Lizzy Caplan as a lost love of Ethan, and even a nice role for Broad City’s Ilana Glazer. The real surprise of the film? Michael Shannon, as Mr. Green - a surreal yet prophetic weed dealer, who seems to have a bit more depth to his role (hint: it’s very A Christmas Carol.) It was also great to hear Tracy Morgan doing the narration for the film.

You won’t be calling The Night Before the year’s greatest comedy, or an absolutely blow away time at the movies, but it delivers in spades as a holiday film worth revisiting, with a bared, filthy heart.