Hot Tub Time Machine: For the ('80s) Middle Schooler in Us All

Hot Tub Time Machine is just one of those movies that's difficult to review. Is it "good" by any kind of objective, critical theory-type film standard? Of course not, and it doesn't aim to be. It's absurd, the time travel doesn't make sense, the "happy" ending is actually really horrifying when you look at it at all closely, there's a lengthy scene involving a room full of people thinking the Black Eyed Peas are awesome -- a lot of it doesn't add up. But this movie's plot is really just a conceit to allow for numerous jokes about the '80s, and to facilitate a rapid succession of one-liners from a bunch of very funny comedians (Rob Corddry in particular is always funny, but he really shines in this movie -- I don't consider Hot Tub Time Machine "the next Hangover" as so many are claiming, but it is definitely his Hangover, in a Zach Galifianakis kind of way, if that makes sense).

So what it comes down to with this thing is really just a matter of personal taste. The movie relies on a lot of blowjob jokes, mildly homophobic jokes, poop jokes, drug use jokes, comedy nudity, regular nudity, and a Bret Michaels impersonator. But to be fair, all those blowjob jokes are really on the high end of blowjob jokes, as blowjob jokes go, so if your humor is that of a 13-year-old boy's (and I don't mean that in a disparaging way), go wild on this thing. You will laugh your ass off. And that's awesome! This movie is the perfect thing for a certain portion of movie audiences, and it's completely harmless. My humor unfortunately lies somewhere in the 60-year-old eccentric gay man category of humors, so I didn't love it. I did laugh out loud a few times though, and Crispin Glover rocked my world in a small, awesome role. I also think Clark Duke's (Greek) very likable performance as the lone rational one surrounded by nutcases could be the kind of mainstream break-out role that Jay Baruchel's was in Tropic Thunder, so all of these are good things.

The movie also has a Wild Hogs, getting-old-sucks-and-I'm-disappointed-with-my-life undercurrent running through it (funnier of course), but none of it's very emotionally affecting. This movie is jokes, jokes, jokes, on a non-stop schedule; everything else is just decoration. And if the aforementioned kinds of jokes are your thing, you'll have an amazing time.

Did you see it? Did you love it? Discuss below. Oh, and let's review all the ways in which John Cusack's career has nosedived since the '80s as well.

Check out a dueling interview with Hot Tub Time Machine star Craig Robinson.

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