Being advertised as a raunchy, drug-filled Christmas comedy, “The Night Before,” starring Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie, delivered what it promised but also much more.

With three incredibly likable actors, the movie would have still been fun if the premise hadn’t gone any further. Thankfully they were able to bring even more to the table than expected and produce a funny, heartfelt and honest comedy about three guys celebrating their last Christmas Eve before true adulthood sets in.

The movie follows three best friends, Isaac, played by Rogen, Chris, played by Mackie, and Ethan, played by Gordon-Levitt, who began the tradition of going out together on Christmas Eve after a disaster struck Ethan’s life. Having stuck to the ritual for over a decade now, the three were moving in separate ways so they decided this would be the last year. Isaac is settling down with his pregnant wife, Chris is a rising star in the NFL whose newly found celebrity is getting the best of him, and Ethan is a poor musician who is still lingering in the past.

In years prior, the three had heard about and longed to attend the biggest party in New York: The Nutcracker Ball. While working a coat check for a different party, Ethan stumbles upon three tickets for the ball and the adventure ensues. Isaac is given a box of drugs and spends the night tripping, Chris is in dire need of weed that keeps getting stolen, and Ethan just wants to get extremely drunk and talk to his ex-girlfriend. Somehow making it to the party, the three were able to spend their last Christmas Eve together reminiscing on the past but also looking toward the future.

Though this movie may at first seem like just another silly comedy, it actually turns into a coming-into-adulthood film. Probably the best aspect of the film is that it is able to produce three different stories and combine them into one rowdy adventure. At the start of the film, Ethan is made to look like he is the one that doesn’t have his life together when in all reality, the other two have sizeable demons of their own that they need to come to terms with as well. With none of these storylines affecting the comedic nature of the movie, “The Night Before” is both hilarious and relatable.

Hosting an impressive supporting crew including Mindy Kaling, Lizzy Caplan and Ilana Glazar, “The Night Before” pays tribute to many classic Christmas movies – from “Home Alone” to “A Christmas Carol.” With Miley Cyrus even making an appearance, this movie might end up being this generation’s Christmas comedy classic. Incredibly funny with an underlying story of self-realization, “The Night Before” is a movie that really brings out the essence of the holidays.