(Film Review) Hot Tub Time Machine

Time to read: 2 min read

Movie Cover Movie Poster

Excuse me Miss, what color is Michael Jackson?

Review

Four men are stuck in their respective ruts in adulthood: Adam (John Cusack) has just broken up with his girlfriend, Nick (Craig Robinson) is in an unhappy job and a henpecked relationship, Lou (Rob Corddry) is a divorced and degenerate party animal, and Jacob (Clark Duke) plays video games all day. The four embark on a ski trip but get caught in a malfunctioning hot tub which ends in them traveling back in time to the 1980s.

The story is silly and irreverent; it feels like an immature and more silly version of Back to the Future. The film will be very nostalgic if one grew up in the 1980s; unfortunately for me, I wasn’t even alive back then so much of the nostalgia goes over my head. Despite this, I can appreciate the lighthearted and youthful energy of the film. The performances are decent; I’m a big fan of the American The Office and Robinson’s Nick and Duke’s Jacob remind me of their respective characters on The Office. Cusack’s levelheaded Adam serves as an excellent foil for Corddry’s unhinged Lou. The first half of the movie is a bit boring with its pacing and slapstick humour; the latter half of the film had some pretty funny bits, though.

Conclusion

A youthful and nostalgic time travelling comedy.

Overall rating: 6.6

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