In a review of the much-anticipated movie “Saturday Night,” Gabriel LaBelle stands out as one of the few actors who isn’t impersonating the real-life character he’s playing, which is rather amusing given his character is Lorne Michaels, the creator of “Saturday Night Live.”

The movie offers a detailed behind-the-scenes look at the making of the first episode of “SNL,” with LaBelle playing a youthful, stressed-out Lorne Michaels. Despite the movie’s intriguing premise of unfolding over the 90 minutes leading up to the live broadcast premiere, director Jason Reitman doesn’t strictly stick to the real-time theme.

The movie features a host of uncanny impersonations, the real draw of “Saturday Night,” mirroring the appeal of “SNL”. For instance, Matthew Rhys captures George Carlin’s cantankerous spirit, while Nicholas Podany’s interpretation of a rising Billy Crystal is spot-on.

“Saturday Night” is essentially Reitman’s take on an Aaron Sorkin movie, retelling a significant chapter in showbiz history with walk-and-talk theatre and witty, ricocheting insults. It also pays homage to early “SNL” as a breeding ground for daring iconoclasts.

The movie does a commendable job of humanizing “SNL”‘s pioneering female headliners, namely Radner, Laraine Newman, and Jane Curtin. Rachel Sennott stands out as Rosie Shuster, the valued writer who was instrumental in keeping Michaels’ ship afloat.

For fans of “SNL,” “Saturday Night” should satisfy with its trove of trivia, lore, and celluloid imagery of the vibrant New York nightlife. However, the movie’s depiction of the chaos of the inaugural night of “SNL” feels somewhat sanitized.

In conclusion, while “Saturday Night” insists that “SNL” was a revolutionary shock to the system, the movie itself feels safe and its anarchy contained. Nonetheless, it offers an intriguing and nostalgic look at the genesis of one of the most iconic shows in American television history.