Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

Four guy friends, all of them bored with their adult lives, travel back to their respective 80s heydays thanks to a time-bending hot tub.

Fueled by energy drinks, vodka and nostalgia for their younger, wilder days, a group of aging best friends travels back in time to 1987, where they get the chance to relive the best year of their lives. And their time machine? Well, it's a hot tub. John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Crispin Glover and Sebastian Stan co-star in this out-of-the-box comedy that takes time travel to a whole new level.

Hot Tub Time Machine is without a doubt 2010s The Hangover. The film stars a great 4-man lead ensemble of John Cusack (proving that you can teach an old dog new tricks), Rob Corddry (yet another Daily Show reporter to skyrockets to fame and steals the show), Craig Robinson (proving once again that this guy needs to be the main attraction in more films) and young Clark Duke (a great rising star). With their lives in a rut, the 4 guys reunite to take drunken, suicidal friend Corddry to their old hangout place at a lofty ski resort that was THE party place back in 86. Now a complete dump, the 4 spend a drunken night in the hot tub that sends them back to the party in 86. Unhelpfully misguided by prophetic Chevy Chase (whose perfect in the role), the gang must continue all the events they did in order not to screw up their futures, so what do they do? The exact opposite. Lots of hilarity ensues, resulting in lots of gross-out, vulgar, modern jokes that Im sure will upset many an uptight person who gets easily offended. Not me; I loved this movie to death. It was great seeing Cusack in a different light for a change, and Robinson and Corddry were the films biggest highlights. Also appearing are a couple of interesting faces from the 80s. Though hes been in lots of stuff since the 80s, Crispin Glover (best remembered from back to the Future) shows up (as a hilarious one-armed bellhop), as well as William Zabka, the go-to bad guy for 80s films like Back to School or the Karate Kids. Commendable sophomore direction from Steve Pink, who makes up for the not-so-funny Accepted. Thankfully, his long career of writing and acting in several Cusack films was probably what resulting in Cusack coming aboard this genuinelly non-Cusack film. Overall, LOTS of funny moments that made me immediately want to watch this film again. Great stuff.

Turn your brain off and be ready for a crude and vulgar laugh fest. Not the best material, but one of the most hilarious cast you will find. If you can laugh at the immature, you will love this film.

*****/*****

5/5 Stars!