Advanced Hot Tub Time Machine review

Cast: John Cusack, Craig Robinson, and Rob Corddry
Dir: Steve Pink
Opens March 26th

I recently saw an advanced screening of Hot Tub Time Machine and I must say it was a very funny movie. I don't know if this has the runaway hit potential of The Hangover, but it does have the same style of humor added with tons of goofy references to '80s pop culture and movies. Appearances by both Chevy Chase and Crispin Glover in the film also adds a nice touch to the nostalgia trip.

The movie stars John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, and Clark Duke as four guys who go on a trip to a ski resort after their one friend Lou (Corddry) nearly killed himself by keeping his car running in the garage while jamming out to some Motley Crue. His two friends (played by Cusack and Robinson) want to take him on this trip so they can relive some of their glory days in the '80s. Adam, Cusack's character, also brings his internet nerd of a nephew Jacob along (Duke) much to Lou's dismay.

When they get to the town where the ski resort is, they discover that it is pretty much a ghost town. Trying to make the best of things, they decide to party anyway in their hotel room's accompanying hot tub. When a Russian version of a Red Bull spills on the rim of the tub, they find themselves stuck in the '80s. Just like that!

Now you pretty much spend the first act of the movie waiting for them to get transported back in time. Luckily, when we get there, it doesn't disappoint. With the help of Chevy Chase's character who plays the hot tub repairman, they realize that if they do anything differently while they're in the '80s, it might change the course of their future for better or worse. This is where most of the film's funniest scenes take place, thankfully.

I have to say that for a comedy like this, it's fairly high concept. But, the writers' light-hearted approach to the irrationality of the plot is what makes everything work. It's as if the characters know that this whole thing is ridiculous (and why wouldn't they think that way), but after awhile it starts to become too much of a self-parody. This is where Chevy Chase's character gets a bit annoying. Chase's character is supposed to be the crazy "Doc" type character that purposely explains how they get out of this situation in a very vague way. It's only really during these scenes where the movie kind of drags on as it attempts to whack you in the head with its self-parodying. The movie kinda has this feeling that it's in love with its own concept and this has a two-pronged effect. In one way, it gives the plot much needed energy to make for a very funny movie, but in another way, it kinda gets lost trying to explain its way through the logic of everything.

It may take a little while for the film to get going, but when it does, it's a pretty hilarious ride toward the end. I was very pleased with how the movie ended. I won't give any of that away, but let's just say it successfully builds upon the ridiculousness of its plot.

What really makes this movie work are the performances by Corddry, Cusack, and Robinson. You can tell that they really had fun with this movie. Clark Duke, however, sticks out like a sore thumb. It's not that he's bad, but his weaknesses as a comedic actor are very noticeable. Luckily, that doesn't take away from the overall hilarity of the film. You also have to consider that since the movie tries to employ a time travel plot inside a comedy, it pulls it all off pretty well. Of course some of it doesn't work, would you really expect it to? If you're simply coming into this movie expecting a very good time, I think you'll find much to like in Hot Tub Time Machine.

Rating: 8/10