Hot Tub Time Machine review

Is it possible that in a world where we have shit comedies throughout the entire year, that a film with such a ridiculous title and premise could be not only entertaining and funny, but in fact an all around great comedy? I ask this pretending as if I wasn't sold on the movie from the first time I watched the original redband teaser which had Craig Robinson screaming about 'Terminator' with cocaine all over his face. Ok "Hot Tub Time Machine" isn't some masterpiece of cinema and nor was it ever destined for that, but it is a great comedy that's original and relentlessly entertaining.

I should also state that this film is made by the same team that brought us "Grosse Point Blank" and my favorite Cusack picture, "High Fidelity", so that too was something that ran through my mind when factoring in what could this be like. Cusack plays the kind of guy that he's great at playing, snarky, alone and somewhat depressed, but never so gone that he would admit to being depressed. Beyond that he's just a fun dude to watch on screen because he lacks that 'I'm a big star' look and feel to his performances, making him seem like anybody. Craig Robinson has stole a many of scenes in a many of shows and movies and finally here he gets some quality screen time. His timing and demeanor makes almost every joke he delivers work to perfection. Rob Corddry gets to play the asshole friend... you know him or her. Robinson and Cusack explain it quite well in the film as 'he's that asshole friend, but he's our asshole'. We've all got somebody in our lives kind of like that. However Corddry is that guy on crack, but as over the top as he gets, it really works out. And lastly Clark Duke who we'll see in "Kick Ass" and I remember for "Sex Drive", a very funny and underrated comedy. Duke is the rational one not from the 80's and thus is trying to get things steady so he actually ends up existing still.

In present times it can be said that all four of these guys lives suck. They are bored, lifeless, existing in their own selves for the most part and slowly going through their paces. That is until Conddry's character Lou attempts to kill himself. The boys then decide to take a trip back to where they had some of the best times of their lives only to find out that for the most part the town is boarded up and the ski lodge they loved so much has pretty much become a wreck. However after a long bout of crap, the hot tub beings working, they begin drinking and an accident launches them back to 1986, the weekend so much happened for them all.

Ok, now to the our concept of time travel via this film. From what it appears I would say we're dealing with "Back to the Future" logic. Meaning if you change too much of the past then you mess you the future. Now how said hot tub time machine got there and what not is never explained or anything like that. All that is known is that after the boys reach 1986, Chevy Chase appears from time to time as a maintenance man trying to fix it and get them back to 2010.

In 1986 however they were all in their prime and loving life for the most part. Partying, hooking up, the whole nine. But they must attempt to stay on that path and what they did back then to ensure their futures... although one would wonder since their futures suck... might they want to try something different. This leads to several funny and well thought out sequences that sometimes don't feel like they're here to tell the story, but just here to tell a joke. And it works well. The soundtrack is another point of notice where they use a lot classic 80's tunes at just the right moment and know just how to make a funny moment funnier. Seriously anyone doubting this movie is an idiot; I'd very much like to see it again and see if it holds well as that was an issue of mine I had with last years "The Hangover". A film that I did very much like, but works best on that first viewing and then again when you haven't watched it for a while and have forgotten some of the gags. "Hot Tub Time Machine" on the other hand has that creative edge that often makes repeat viewings work right away like Edgar Wright films for me.

If you love movies of the 80's you can't pass this up either because it's a concept that would've been down right perfect for that decade. Something so over the top and absurd that could be made absolutely hilarious in the right hands. But it's here now, so don't miss while you've got the chance.