Sunday, April 11, 2010

Hot Tub Time Machine

Movie name: Hot Tub Time Machine
Year of release: 2010
Director: Steve Pink
Stars: John Cusack, Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Sebastian Stan, Crispin Glover, Chevy Chase, Lizzy Caplan, Collette Wolfe
Genre: Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis:Director Steve Pink is a long time collaborator of John Cusack, having worked with the actor in his more personal films such as "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "High Fidelity". His previous directing effort was the comedy "Accepted" that starred Justin Long and Jonah Hill (and that's the most remarkable thing of that film). "Hot Tub..." follows the story of 3 friends who have known each other since teenagers (in the 80s), but who have lost touch with each other in the meantime. When one of them has an accident, they decide to get together and relive some of their joys in the mountain where they used to ski as teenagers. With them goes one of their nephews, who does not know who his father is. Upon reaching their bungalow and trying the hot tub, they accidentally get sent back through time 20 years. For them is a chance to remedy their pasts and make up for their future. Steve Pink's film tries to follow the path that "The Hangover" opened: the R-rated comedy that goes for the gross effect, still retaining the light touch. However where "The Hangover" had a smart screenplay and a premise that slowly unwrapped itself, "Hot Tub" plays more on the gross effect of the situations and the cliches of the 80s. It's a bit hit or miss and where some situations are definitely funny, others for the most part just don't work. John Cusack does his usual routine, but the highlight goes to Rob Corddry, just for the sheer energy that his character has. A weak effort.

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