Hot Tub Time Machine is the story of four men who live miserable lives. The mistaken suicide attempt of Lou (Rob Corddry) spurs Adam and Nick (John Cusack and Craig Robinson) to watch over their friend and take him up to Kodiak Valley, the site of their greatest youthful achievements. Along for the ride is Jacob (Clark Duke), Adam's sad-sack-smart-ass-nephew. Just like these men, Kodiak Valley hasn't aged well either. What should be a wild and crazy time is in actuality tedium, until the titular hot tub comes to life. With help from "Russian Red Bull", the hot tub... well you can probably figure out what happens.Once back in time (1986, to be precise) the men are disturbed to find they are their younger selves. Except for Jacob, who occasionally flickers in and out of existence. The wise and cryptic hot tub repair man (Chevy Chase, continuing his funny streak of late) informs the men not to mess with the fabric of the space-time continuum. What follows is an emotional journey, full of heart wrenching passion and... no, just kidding. But there are a lot of dick jokes.
Honestly, Hot Tub Time Machine is sort of a mess, but it's a damn funny mess. The story actually holds together and makes sense while respecting the rules that it lays out. There's an actual sense of comedic set up and pay off (The Crispin Glover sequences just might be the funniest thing I see all year). And the chemistry between the four leads is spectacular. Bear in mind, though Cusack is billed as the star it's Corddry's show. Every moment he's on frame, he's in complete control and will do whatever it takes to deliver the biggest laugh. The man is a comic genius.
Just an interesting digression: Two of the writers on this are the guys responsible for Sex Drive, which was another ridiculous and hilarious movie. It's strange how they also She's Out Of My League, and that movie was pretty lame, and nowhere in the same comedic league as Sex Drive or Hot Tub Time Machine. And they didn't even direct this one, Accepted's Steve Pink helmed Hot Tub Time Machine, but managed to keep the humor intact, and recognize there's a fine line between stupid and dumb.
There's not much else I can really talk about Hot Tub Time Machine. Did I laugh? You bet your sweet ass I did. The movie is pretty scattered and barely holds together. But if you're wanting to sit back and laugh a lot at grown men acting silly while evoking 80s nostalgia, which drips out of every pore, then this is the right movie for you. On top of which, it's called Hot Tub Time Machine, and that alone should win it some award.
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