Despite the gushing of others I for one thought the original Hot Tub Time Machine was merely amusing, hardly the modern day classic that it was purported to be.
With Rob Cusack sensibly recognising after striking it lucky once and walking away, the chances that this would better that film were slim to none.
But of course that never stopped Hollywood trying to wring another dollar from a tired premise…
With Adam (Cusack) escaping, everyone else from the first movie revels in their stolen lives, using their knowledge of the current times to astonish the people of the 1980s. Nick (Craig Robinson) is a musical megastar, with a seemingly never ending stream of classics – as best as he can remember them from when he listened to them in his former future. And Lou (Rob Corddry) only went an invented the Internet. His ‘Lougle’ being used the world over, with each click further lining his pockets.
All is good for our heroes in this borrowed reality.
Until an unknown disgruntled individual arrives to take the life that they themselves worked so little to take.
With their new future looking bleak, the trio – I forgot the fat dumpy kid Jacob is back in this again – must once again use the hot tub time machine to go back to remedy the situation.
Sounds complex? Well I must assure you it really isn’t. This is crass and inane stuff. A central moment has two of the guys needing to have virtual sex with each other on TV. Continuing with the theme when Adam’s adult son Adam jr (Adam Scott) must take a needle to the dick. Why I can’t remember. Because ha-fucking-ha that’s why!
The fact that the cast seem content to revel in this bottom feeding tripe should be cold comfort to their families. Corddry especially seems to love the gross stuff.
And throughout all this sadness they have the temerity to verbally reference several better movies, movies that you would be better spent watching than this reheated disappointment.
Final Rating – 5.5 / 10. How disappointingly inevitable.
