Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Where has JC Chasez been? It’s the question *NSYNC fans have been asking themselves for years, with very few answers available, at least until he joined Instagram in May. And even then, all we got was that he’s been in the studio with other people, and he likes a #tbt just as much as the rest of us.
But now, a 2016 film called Opening Night has landed on Netflix and it is a revelation. JC Chasez stars as JC Chasez, and it’s the best “dramatized version of themselves” performance since Neil Patrick Harris in the Harold and Kumar movies. The film follows all the shenanigans happening backstage (and on stage) during a Broadway musical’s opening night. The musical itself, titled Wonderland, is basically the It’s A Wonderful Life of pop music, and that would’ve worked as its own film. But Opening Night allows a wide cast of characters to shine, to sing, and to sling jokes, and that’s just what they do. The film is much funnier than you’re expecting it to be, and JC has a lot to do with that.
He’s dusted off those Mickey Mouse Club skills and brought them out to play here. His voice sounds as amazing as ever, he’s still got those dance skills, and those acting chops are totally there. The Opening Night version of JC is a total womanizer who uses every social interaction as a chance to drop a wonderfully cheesy *NSYNC pun. He even busts into “Mambo No. 5”backstage, complete with motorboating a woman. No, really though, he’s so good you’ll find yourself wondering why he hasn’t been in movies and Broadway shows for the past 15 years, and just might even ask yourself, “Justin who?”
JC is surrounded by a supporting cast that all bring their own laughs throughout the movie, most notably Taye Diggs as a flamboyant performer that shows off his dance moves via dance-off backstage and in an “Ice Ice Baby” number on stage, and Topher Grace stars as the production manager Nick, and former actor himself, at his absolute Topher Grace-iest. Alona Tal shines, Anne Heche serves as an actress past her prime, and some of comedy’s finest secret weapons round out the supporting cast, including Lauren Lapkus, Paul Scheer, Brian Huskey, Zach Cregger, and Rob Riggle at (perhaps) his loudest.
Opening Night is just the right amount of pervy fun to make it a worthwhile watch due to this ensemble…and yes, specifically because of JC. He’s kept those boy band good looks, which is not something they all can claim these days, and truly excels at playing a total douche, with one nice vulnerable moment buried towards the end of the second act. The project sends a clear message that he’s not taking himself too seriously, while still allowing him a platform to show off that talent that garnered him millions of fans two decades ago.
If you’re in the mood for a raunchier, even more screwball comedy than Pitch Perfect, Opening Night just might be your jam. There’s a reason why this musical-comedy can boast such a great cast, as it manages to remain entertaining every step of the way. And will you be in love with JC all over again by the end of it? This I promise you.
