HOT TUB TIME MACHINE
Disappointed at the way their lives have turned out, four longtime friends reunite at the ski resort where they used to party and find themselves transported back to the year 1986 by a magical Jacuzzi. Adam (John Cusack), Lou (Rob Corddry), Nick (Craig Robinson), and Jacob (Clark Duke) have all seen better days; Adam's and Nick's love lives are in the dumps, Lou is clinging to his hard-partying past, and video-game addict Jacob can't even muster the courage to walk outside. A fun stay at the ski resort where the gang made some of their best memories seems like just the thing to cheer everyone up, but after a night of heavy drinking in the hot tub, the four friends wake up to find they're about to live through the '80s a second time. Determined not to make the same mistakes twice, Adam, Lou, Nick, and Jacob decide to take full advantage of the unique opportunity presented to them, and create the lives they've always wanted. Chevy Chase, Crispin Glover, and Lizzy Caplan co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Steve Pink
Cast: John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Crispin Glover
Release Date: Mar 26, 2010
Rated R for strong crude content, nudity, pervasive language, drug use and strong sexual content
Runtime: 1 hr. 40 min.
Genres: Comedy, Comedy, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Simplistic to the point of absurdity Hot Tub Time Machine is one of those movies that should be a hell of lot funnier than it actually is. First time director Steve Pink has a clean slate to work with because of the simple and basic premise that is laid out in title. The problem is that Pink doesn’t quite know what to do with it, so he goes for gross out gags and predictable jokes more often than not. It’s not that it isn’t funny from time to time but it isn’t nearly as funny as it could be. The cast does what it can with the jokes, giving laughs from time to time but never consistently. John Cusack is kind of spotty here, occasionally going through the motions but he does end up in outfit very similar to what he wore in Say Anything so you can’t complain too much. Rob Corddry is on full blast throughout, over the top and mostly funny with occasional spats of annoying. Craig Robinson is solid always delivering strong delivery on his lines. Clark Duke isn’t given much to do outside of spouting out generic nerd speak. Chevy Chase walks through the set from time to time and seems as confused as to why he there was we are. Crispin Glover is given the task of carrying a running joke that goes on way too long for it’s own good. Somehow with 4 writers behind the script it’s the best they could for him. It’s a shame that Hot Tub Time Machine doesn’t just go balls out and runs with the insanity and silliness of its premise.
C-
