When I first heard about Hot Tub Time Machine I thought it was a joke. Seriously, how could you not? Was I to seriously believe that a studio would make a movie with that ridiculous title? Who in their right mind would greenlight such a stupid-sounding film? Then I remembered Snakes on a Plane; so what if it was originally just a working title, it still came out, did it not? After these initial "logical" thoughts came through my my mind, I began to think about the possibilities. In the right hands this could be a beautiful, beautiful film. That's right, I said beautiful.
The trailers came out and I began to get a little excited as they looked utterly ridiculous. There are not many people who could get the likes of John Cusack and Craig Robinson together in the same film, not to mention Rob Corddry and Chevy Chase! Now, if that is not enough, do not forget Crispin Glover. I know I did a double take when I saw that he was in this.
The big question was whether or not this was going to have any sort of story. I went in expecting something along the lines of Snakes on a Plane while hoping for something more like The Hangover. I walked out more than satisfied to have found it was closer to The Hangover, if The Hangover had gotten together with Back to the Future with a little Wayne's World/Bill & Ted on the side. Seriously, the movie is not serious at all, yet still has a heart at its core and that is what elevates it beyond the goofy, stupid, raunchy comedy upon which it is built.
Hot Tub Time Machine focuses on a trio of old high school friends who have gone their separate ways as they have gotten older, with varying degrees of success. You have Adam (John Cusack) an insurance salesman whose girlfriend has moved out, left alone with his nephew who lives in the basement, Jacob (Clark Duke). Nick Webber (Craig Robinson) is a dog groomer convinced his wife is cheating on him. Finally there is Lou (Rob Corddry) who has not left his partying ways behind him, and it is his accident that kicks off this quartet's adventure.
Lou makes the mistake of revving his car in a closed garage during a rather active round of air drumming and becomes a victim of the carbon monoxide poisoning. This brings the friend back together, and believing their friend may be suicidal, they decide to take a weekend trip to a ski getaway they went to back in their heyday of the late 80's.
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
Rob Corddry is a very funny guy. I think I'd go to see this just knowing his name is attached, but hearing about Chase, Glover, and Cusak, it sounds like it's a must see.
Thanks, Chris.
2 - Alan
Correct! Don't over think this movie and don't try to compare it to recent classics like The Hangover. Just go have fun as this is just a fun movie!
3 - Frank Stephano
Great review, very refreshing to have a critic judge a movie based on what it is supposed to be rather than giving it a failing grade because it wasn't even close to being as good as the Godfather.
I want to see "Hot Tub" mostly because I remember seeing Cusack in Sixteen Candles in the mid 80's and The Savage Steve Holland Films of the early 90's. I can't think of growing up without him in a memory.
Plus the kid who plays the younger him is the spitting image!
4 - A Geek Girl
Great review. It really is one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. But you're so right-it could just as easily have gone off the rails. A lot of 80s references would never have carried it. It had to have a perfect mix in the casting. And it did.
Cusack and Duke were excellent at balancing out Corddry's crazy party animal shenanigans. And Robinson was just stellar. Honestly. His flipping back and forth between being the voice of reason and totally freaking out absolutely made that movie.
The only thing I would complain about is the Robinson bathtub scene. The 3 foot naked boobs suddenly bouncing all over the screen were a shock. And a total distraction. I have no problem with nudity per se, but it didn't make the scene any funnier and it ruined what should have been hilarious. It felt like an obligatory 'guy movie' boob shot. In the theater all laughter came to a dead stop. The scene was just uncomfortably bad. Robinson's messy crying couldn't save it.
Luckily it was over quickly and the cast was able to get the momentum back although the mood had changed.