Hot Tub Time Machine

Yes, I did.

See it, I mean.

And, yes, I did.

Enjoy it, I mean. And, no, this is not an April Fool's joke.

All things are possible. Trust me when I say, don't judge a movie by its incredibly stupid title.

When my psuedo nephew, now a full fledged Marine, was visiting over Christmas weekend, we took in "Sherlock Holmes." You may remember that I hated it like rat poison. And, frankly, I rarely do match up with the movie tastes of a 20 year-old male. But he semi-accused me right then and there of not knowing how to enjoy movies anymore. Well, if the movie is geared toward the young and mindless, I probably won't enjoy it. But, if that film manages to still be smart and clever, even I can sit through the most crass of crass.

And, now I have my Exhibit A. "Hot Tub Time Machine."

Two main things enticed me into the theater. First of all, I remember vividly 1986. It was arguably one of the best years of my life, largely due to the New York Mets phenomenal run that season. But, life overall was good. What was not to like about 1986? I wanted to revisit it the way the characters in this movie did. Just without getting wet.

Secondly, there's John Cusack. If he's attached, in my mind, the movie won't suck completely. Unlike assholes like Seth Rogan, Will Ferrell, etc., Cusack doesn't usually make junk. Indeed, one of his very first movies is one of my favorites. The marvelous "Sure Thing." Made when? Back in the 80s.

Okay, if you're looking for something on a par with "Mourning Becomes Electra," this movie might not be your glass of wine cooler. But, if you want to see something stupid but funny and clever and, gasp, thought provoking. you could do much worse than "Hot Tub Time Machine." Actually, you have done a lot worse.

"Knocked Up."

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall."

"The Hangover."

All of which were heralded as fabulous screen comedies. None of which could stand up taller than "Hot Tub." The difference is heart.

Take, for instance, the absolutely dreadful "The Hangover." It's really a similar plot. Four guys stuck someplace and getting into all sorts of mayhem. But, at its core, "The Hangover" was basically a series of ridiculous sightgags strung together with four characters who had no redeeming qualities. I wrote at the time that I had wished all four had crashed and burned on the way to Las Vegas. The movie could be over in eight minutes and my time returned to me unscathed.

Where "Hot Tub Time Machine" is different is in how they present their four guys. Three are middle-aged. And flawed in life. There is something for each of them to learn when they journey back to a similar point in time. Of course, there's the usual time travel plot device of altering history, blah, blah, blah. But, here, even amid all the usual vile antics, there is something for the filmmakers to say. It may not be much. But, it still shouts volumes over any single word uttered in "The Hangover."

Naturally, there's the typical gross-out gags. One of the guys, played as obscenely as possible by Rob Corddry, uses the word "fuck" as a noun, a pronoun, a verb, an adjective, and a particple. And he practically drowns a poor little squirrel with a geyser full of his own vomit. But, the other folks are a bit more "normal" and balance him out beautifully so it's not a complete onslaught of bus station bathroom humor.

Layered in marvelously are terrific "you have to pay attention" references to movies, TV shows, and pop icons of the 80s. Chevy Chase dodders around as a hot tub repairman. Several characters sport names from "The Breakfast Club," "Back to School," and "The Karate Kid." As a matter of fact, William Zabka, the latter's villainous Johnny Lawrence, even shows up for a few minutes as a poker player. The scriptwriters' attention to detail makes the assumption that the audience is smart enough to get all these references. For once, "dumb" is not in.

Most delicious is the running gag involving Crispin Glover as a one-armed hotel bellhop. And, for once, a joke builds up to a hilarious conclusion which has to be seen to be believed.

Have I sold you on "Hot Tub Time Machine" yet?

I know you want to.

Aw, go ahead.

I did.

Dinner last night: Grilled hamsteak.