A Cesspool of Comedic ClichesBy John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time," "Cinema Classics," and "On the Marquee"
Jim, a breakfast buddy, suggests I open my review with a request for a time machine that would give me back the time I wasted watching this chronoclunker, Hot Tub Time Machine. Well, thanks, Jim, but this is my job, sometimes not pleasant.
I have to admit the idea is catchy, a fusion of Hangover and H.G. Wells. But there begins the kitschy and ends the creativity as four boy-men headed by all purpose, B movie star and producer John Cusack travel back to 1986 when 3 of them were living the life and the younger one only a fornication away.
The references to '80's kitsch, including giant portable phones, ALF, and leg warmers, are the best part of the comedy but not enough to save it from the brotherhood of failures at this time of year (one of the writers is partly responsible for the script of She's Out of My League?no surprise). If I were willing to go back to catch the by now arcane allusions, I would have a better appreciation. But, alas, I don't have the courage to return to lame laughs.
A film that begins with fundament and believes Chevy Chase as a tub repairman is funny needs to travel back to the '30's when real comedies relied on wit, not s_ _ t.
John DeSando teaches film at Franklin University and co-hosts WCBE 90.5's It's Movie Time, Cinema Classics, and On the Marquee, which can be heard streaming at http://publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/ppr/index.shtml and on demand at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/arts.artsmain Contact him at JDeSando@Columbus.RR.com