Hot Tube Time Machine is a whacky comedy that goes beyond logic to be funny. The film finds three adult males going through hard times heading back to the past for a moment to relive their glory days.
John Cusack (Adam) is in a similar role as a broken heart, recently divorced man taking care of his nephew. Clark Duke (Jacob) is the nephew who would rather play video games than go out and be a teen. Craig Robinson (Nick) is a former musician turned pet groomer who is let down by his marriage and wonders what happened to his rock star days. Rob Corddry (Lou) plays a drunk low life who fails at everything even suicide. After Lou fails to kill himself, the guys get together and decide to take a man trip out to their favorite ski resort. They don't realize that like their own lives, the resort has seen better days. The resort is falling apart but the hot tub outside their suite is fully functional. They get wildly drunk and with the aid of a knock-of Russian power drink like Red Bull which causes a malfunction in the hot tub, they are sent them back to 1986.
Hot Tub Time Machine is actually pretty funny. Much of the humor works because despite being an absolutely stupid and awesome premise, the movie doesn't rely on crude, disgusting or crass humor. When the film does that like when a bell boy's arm is ripped off it comes off as a shock rather than funny. Disgusting humor exists but shock humor isn't the only thing that makes this film funny. While Corddry might be a little exhausting as he tries to find ways to make money in the past by using his knowledge of the future, the humor finds laughs because the chemistry from the four is very believable. The characters are very sarcastic and are capable of using the f-bomb to a smart and playful degree. There are also some very funny situations, for instance when Nick who has been struggling with his wife's affair calls his wife, in the past, at the age of nine and unloads on her for being a cheating bitch. The banter Lou and Jakob share as they insult one another is fun and spirited. Cusack provides little humor but his role as Adam is the emotional center. Even as the film's producer and biggest star, Cusack doesn't let his character dominate the film which could have caused the film to drag.
Hot Tube Time Machine struggles with some logical errors. Despite taking place in 1986 there is a rousing gambling scene that involves the 1987 AFC championship game. Cleveland Browns fan (like myself) might enjoy this moment as John Elway's historic drive falls short. There is also a joke that Lou forms Motley Lue and enjoys the celebrity of being a rock star. This is not necessarily possible because Motley Crue was formed in 1981. Despite these errors, the goof ball premise of a hot tub time machine already dismissed any sense of logic or reason. It's a funny movie. It doesn't matter that the Chevy Chase character is never really explained or why the group is so reluctant to relive their past, make the best of it or improve on their future by fixing the past. It is probably a smart move that the movie doesn't really take the time to examine their emotional state or explain the time wizard that is Chevy Chase's character.
The real break out star of Hot Tube Time Machine is Craig Robinson. You might recognize him as a recurring character on The Office or small roles in Pineapple Express and Zack and Miri Make a Porno. In this film, as part of an ensemble cast, he gets to display a wide range of comedic skills. He can get your sympathy, be enraged, be sarcastic and be funny at the same time. There is a fair amount of sincerity in his comedic delivery. This sincerity makes a great deal of what he does either funny or charming.
Hot Tub Time Machine is funny if you accept that logic does not exist and just go with the flow. It's a guy movie, not like Wild Hogs or even The Hangover. The guys aren't good looking, on a road trip or in a fashionable hot spot like Vegas. Even the ski resort, past or present looks like a bad movie set or sound stage but this adds to the movie's charm. It has the Cusack production stamp all over it and I am sucker for Cusack's personal and sometimes morbid romantic explorations. Plus any film where the Cleveland Browns go to the Super Bowl cannot be all bad.
The real break out star of Hot Tube Time Machine is Craig Robinson. You might recognize him as a recurring character on The Office or small roles in Pineapple Express and Zack and Miri Make a Porno. In this film, as part of an ensemble cast, he gets to display a wide range of comedic skills. He can get your sympathy, be enraged, be sarcastic and be funny at the same time. There is a fair amount of sincerity in his comedic delivery. This sincerity makes a great deal of what he does either funny or charming.
Hot Tub Time Machine is funny if you accept that logic does not exist and just go with the flow. It's a guy movie, not like Wild Hogs or even The Hangover. The guys aren't good looking, on a road trip or in a fashionable hot spot like Vegas. Even the ski resort, past or present looks like a bad movie set or sound stage but this adds to the movie's charm. It has the Cusack production stamp all over it and I am sucker for Cusack's personal and sometimes morbid romantic explorations. Plus any film where the Cleveland Browns go to the Super Bowl cannot be all bad.
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