Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Hot Tub Time Machine

Chose this film from Blockbusters because a) it's a comedy and we were in the mood for something a little lighter, and b) it's got time travel, which suggested something a little different. It's actually a very ordinary film. I don't think I laughed at all throughout, and the situations were very predictable and staid. Just what you might expect a generic 'lads' film to be like after it's been filted through 200 studio executives, all having their own crack at the scripting. Far superior is Doghouse - similar initial idea of a bunch of pussy-whipped losers heading off for a holiday, but far better in execution (and it has zombies in, which is always a winner). About the best bit in it is when one of the young ladies comes racing into a room dressed in a skin tight ski outfit - she certainly has a nice figure! But the promise of anything more is non-existant. The humour is, if anything, down at the Porkies level, with projectile vomiting and removing faeces-covered keys from a dog's bottom being just two examples of the gross-out factor in the film. Completely out of place and unnecessary really. The time travel element is very lightly used. Basically the hot tub gets some 'Hi Energy' drink poured in it and transports our leads back in time. Then there's some slight interest in that one ends up being the father of the youngest in the group, and a running gag about how a bellhop loses an arm ... but it's all very predictable. A shame as the basic idea - a back to the eighties type of vibe - is not bad. They should have ditched the crude gross-out humour and gone for some good belly laughs instead ...

1 comment:

wayne said...

I actually found this film pretty funny, although I did see it at the cinema & often find films more funny with a bigger audience. As with horror films, I went to see Devil last week & found that quite 'scary' with all the gasps & screams from the auditorium. I suppose it wont seem half as bad when it comes out on DVD. Back to HTTM, I agree that the time travel element (which is the reason I went to see the film) is under used. I am at present, trying to watch EVERY time travel film EVER made, as it has always been One of my greatest facinations. any recommendations???