Normally, I would not object to this cheap genre of humor. When the humor is comprised almost entirely of penis jokes, however, I begin to question whether or not viewing the film was a smart decision.
The movie follows four main characters as they each struggle to escape from their dead-end lifestyles by returning to their favorite '80s party destination, Kodiak Valley. After they find the skiway abandoned, a drunken night of hot tub partying accidentally sends the crew back to 1986, when the party is still raging, giving the once-again-teenagers an opportunity to change the past and, in turn, the future.
"Hot Tub" is helmed by director Steve Pink (2006's "Accepted") and features a collection of big names from across the comedy world. Although the film stars John Cusack (most recently seen in last year's "2012"), his co-stars Rob Corddry ("The Daily Show") and Craig Robinson (best known as Darryl from NBC's "The Office") steal the spotlight. Relative newcomer Clark Duke rounds out the foursome as Cusack's awkward, video-game obsessed nephew, reluctantly brought along on the journey to Kodiak Valley, transplanting him into an era that predates his own birth.
Cusack gives a depressingly unfunny performance, especially when viewed in contrast with his hysterical co-stars. His character never fully develops over the course of the film despite having the most screen time of the bunch and the few jokes he squeezes in fail to leave any lasting impression. Corddry and Robinson, on the other hand, have impeccable timing that strikes comedic gold, especially when the duo appears on screen together. Still, their characters are rather one-dimensional and the nuggets of humor they provide appear at intervals too infrequent and irregular to salvage the abysmal premise of the film.
Given its premise, attempting to apply logic to story of "Hot Tub" is a foolish endeavor, but it is still worth noting that the movie makes no sense whatsoever. Any effort to understand the narrative timeline will only make viewers frustrated and perpetually displeased. For a diehard fan of cinematic time-travel like myself, the film breaks too many of the laws established by canonical time-travel films (although the many "Back to the Future" references were greatly appreciated). And while such a film could risk getting waylaid by the mechanics of decade jumping, it seems that "Hot Tub" actually makes an effort not to take itself seriously at all. Luckily, this refusal to engage in an intellectual discussion of physics allows the film to focus on its intellectual discussion of penis humor.
In fact, the only crutch "Hot Tub" has to lean on, after failing to develop a comprehensive plot or interesting characters, is its endless onslaught of crude humor. But unfortunately for audiences, most of these gags fail to resonate. Jokes range from projectile vomit to threesome etiquette, and although most manage to steal a chuckle from viewers, few bear the mark of legitimate comedy.
Admittedly, "Hot Tub" does offer a few genuinely humorous moments, but these jokes are hardly as obscene and crude as the rest of the otherwise sophomoric movie. The most laughable moments occur when the gang surreptitiously refers to Cusack's past romance as his "great white buffalo" or when Robinson abandons all discretion and breaks the fourth wall, directly addressing the audience and stating, "It must be some kind of hot tub time machine."
The most memorable moments do not rely on bodily humor, but rather strong comedic writing. It would have been refreshing to see the film take a break from the hackneyed sex humor and rely more on the genuine, albeit more wholesome, one-liners that are unfortunately rare.
The supporting cast was also an impressive addition to the film, with cameos from Chevy Chase as the mysterious hot tub repairman and from Crispin Glover as a bellhop who is doomed, at some point in 1986, to lose one of his arms. Both of these characters are wonderful additions to the film, yet neither contributes enough to make up for the subpar central cast.
"Hot Tub Time Machine" is not a movie that would appeal to most audiences. It is targeted towards viewers with a childish, crude and inane sense of humor, most specifically a college-age male who finds crude jokes to be an utter riot. I happen to fall directly in this demographic, but I still did not find the movie too enjoyable. I highly discourage wasting money to catch "Hot Tub" in theaters.
