Since the beginning of time, starting with the caveman who tried to send his cavebuddy back a few years by repeatedly hitting him over the head with a club, human beings have been fascinated with time travel. Going back perhaps just as far is our obsession with drinking and sex. If you question this research, just look at Pebbles — alcohol is the only reasonable excuse for a stone cold fox like Wilma making the bed rock with Fred.
Leave it to Hollywood, then, to combine audiences’ love for time travel with the drinking and sex already involved with America’s hedonistic recreational icon: the hot tub. As ridiculous and straightforward as the title suggests, “Hot Tub Time Machine” survives lukewarm writing thanks to frequent moments of stupid, crude fun brought about by a smart director and cast.
It probably comes as no surprise that the idea for the film started out as a joke well before it ever made it to the big screen. Screenwriter Josh Heald came up with the idea for a “Hot Tub Time Machine” script with friends Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (writers of the two “Harold & Kumar” films) while in college as a running gag. Apparently Heald felt left out after his buddies became successful and decided to take the joke and turn it into his debut screenplay. The result is an unsurprisingly underdeveloped amateur story where nothing of any real significance happens.
Continuing the oft-used raunchy buddy comedy formula that resulted in surprise success for “The Hangover” last summer, the film follows three out of touch friends who’ve become bored with their adult lives. Adam (John Cusack, “2012”) is an insurance salesman who has just been dumped by his girlfriend. Held back by his over controlling wife, Nick (Craig Robinson, TV’s “The Office”) is a failed musician working at a pet care store. Then there’s Lou (Rob Corddry, “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay”), the party boy that never grew up. In an effort to reconnect, the three, along with Adam’s videogame obsessed nephew Jacob (Clark Duke, “Sex Drive”), head to a once popular ski resort where they awake after a booze-soaked night in a hot tub to find themselves transported back to 1986.
Although Heald’s script is a comedic cookie cutter at best — with the exception of a hot tub time machine, that is — it still manages to draw laughs under the wise direction of Steve Pink, who, despite having only one past directorial credit (the insufferable college comedy “Accepted”), makes decisions like a pro. Pink understands that when your premise is as ridiculous as the one in this film, it’s more important to entertain, not explain.
Consequently, Pink takes the film in the direction of, “It’s a hot tub. It travels in time. Accept it and move on.” Besides having a non-FDA-approved can of the Russian energy drink Chernobyl spill, short-circuiting the hot tub, there’s no justification for why this hot tub travels in time, and that’s the way it should be. It’s mindless entertainment that’s about humor, not science, and Pink gratefully realizes this as evidenced by the film.
One smart decision Heald did make, however, was choosing to send his time travelers back to the ’80s. Easily one of the easiest decades to poke fun at, the film doesn’t cut any corners –from the iconic fashion to more ’80s cultural references than a pair of parachute pants could possibly hold. This results in almost enough fresh hilarious moments throughout the film to keep your mind off the unimaginative screenplay — not to mention a bitchin’ soundtrack.
Speaking of ’80s cultural references, the film stars one of the decade’s movie icons: John Cusack. Unfortunately, his role is anything but inspiring. He’s there more as a parody of himself than anything — a ruse to bring audiences to the theaters. Regardless, the man still gives a winning performance, and it’s enjoyable seeing him back in the decade that made him a star.
As is the case with Cusack, it’s the acting that allows Heald’s colorless characters to come to life. Corddry plays the same alcohol-driven asshole as always and Robinson isn’t much different from his other lovable funnyman roles — but regardless of the lack of originality, both performances work surprisingly well in this film, especially when in comedic combination with Cusack’s straight man role.
For those who don’t usually find themselves laughing at raunchy buddy comedies, “Hot Tub Time Machine” may be one to wait on, if not skip entirely. On the other hand, if “The Hangover” had you rolling on the floor, grab some friends and kick some past — it’s not saying too much, but it is the best comedy so far this year.
3 stars out of 5.
