You should probably already know whether or not you’ll enjoy a movie titled “Hot Tub Time Machine.” Depending on your outlook, it’s either the perfect dose of silly 80s nostalgia, or it’s the dumbest movie idea since “Dude, Where’s My Car?”
Consider this critic in the pro-column. Boasting the most literal (and awesome) title since “Snakes on a Plane,” “Hot Tub Time Machine” coasts on several not-so-subtle winks to the raunchy sex comedies of the 80s. It also contains a hilarious tour-de-force by “Daily Show” alum Rob Corddry as a maybe-suicidal guy on the lookout for a good party.
Eighties dreamboat John Cusack also stars as a John Cusack-esque middle-aged guy who just got dumped by his girlfriend. His nephew (Clark Duke) lives in his basement, and his two best buds (Corddry and “Office” breakout Craig Robinson) struggle with their own dead-end careers and personal lives.
So the guys decide to jumpstart their meaningless existence by visiting the same hot-spot ski resort that Cusack and Bros. spent most of their formidable teenage years. Sadly, the resort isn’t the wild party haven they remember. The one-armed bellhop (a terrifically odd Crispin Glover) doesn’t exactly help to attract any gorgeous snow bunnies.
Luckily, their room comes equipped with a Hot Tub Time Machine, and, after some Russian energy drink does something wonky to the wiring, the guys are inexplicably transported back to a pivotal weekend in 1986. The older guys appear as their younger, happier selves, and even the bellhop has both arms attached.
Time-travel theorists need not ponder much about the logic in “Hot Tub.” The plot exists to let the guys joke about terrible haircuts and episodes of “Alf,” and it gives Corddry the chance to be the belligerent comedic genius he is. When he’s not trying to score with Cusack’s sister, he’s gleefully anticipating the bellhop’s inevitable dismemberment.
While the ending disappoints, “Hot Tub” does manage to tell a story about the value of bro-companionship. The f-word is spouted at least 200 times, and there’s some projectile vomit thrown in just to class up the whole experience.
For what it is, “Hot Tub Time Machine” delivers the profane goods. It has enough heart and witty pop culture references to offset some of the more low-brow moments.
Plus, I don’t care what anybody thinks, “Hot Tub Time Machine” is a fantastic movie title.
Grade: B