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REVIEW: The Hot Tub Time Machine

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The Hot Tub Time Machine is one of those movies like Snakes on a Plane in which the title of the film explains everything you need to know about the film’s plot. Everyone walking into the theater to see it knows in advance that the movie is stupid. If you think you’re heading to see an intellectual film, then you yourself are stupid.

John Cusack, playing a character named Adam, leads a cast of three middle aged friends who have drifted apart and have realized that none of their lives have turned out the way they hoped. When Adam’s old friend Lou (Rob Corddry) tries to kill himself while rocking out to Motley Crue, Adam and Nick (the American Office’s Craig Robinson) decide to take him away to a ski resort that they had frequented in their youth to give him a chance to relax. This is an oddly dark way to kick off the adveture.

They are joined on the trip by Adam’s nerdy young nephew Jacob, played by Clark Duke, who is detested by Lou.

After a night of crazy partying, one thing leads to another and the four find themselves transported back to 1986 and hijinks ensue.

The most important question about any film like this, of course, is by what time travel rules do they play?

Lost?

Terminator?

Back to the Future?

Bill and Ted?

Apparently, the characters are convinced they must follow the rules of the Butterfly Effect (a movie I skipped) to make sure they don’t ruin their futures. Can these middle aged versions of themselves succeed in replicating their youthful behavior? Will they destroy the world if they fail?

The film continues Chevy Chase’s comeback tour as he shows up as a funny and mysterious hot tub repairman and also features a hysterical running gag featuring former-Back to the Future costar Crispin Glover.

In the end, is the movie funny?

Hell yeah.

Everyone is comparing this flick to the Hangover because that was funny and remarkably successful recently, but I think I enjoyed the pure madness of HTTM more.