‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ Takes You Back to the 80s with Crude Humor By Art Byrd

“Hot Tub Time Machine,” A hot tub as a time machine... Hmmm. I’ll admit that’s a red flag.
But I have to confess, the film was not as bad as it would seem.

If you like to be reminded of the 80s and fondly recall when MTV actually showed music videos and the fashion was big hairdos and bright clothes, you can get through the movie. Plus, the cast is really good, which saves the film from going down the drain.

It’s only fitting that John Cusack, who starred in some of the 80s most memorable films, such as “The Sure Thing,” “Better Off Dead,” “Sixteen Candles” and “Say Anything,” is in a film about returning to that decade.

Here is the scenario: three friends in their 40s find their lives haven’t turned out as they’d anticipated. In the 80s, they were in full control of their lives. Adam’s (Cusack’s) live-in girlfriend moves out and takes everything that isn’t nailed down. Meanwhile, his 20-year-old nephew, Jacob, played by Clarke Duke, lives in Adam’s basement.

Then there is Nick, played by Craig Robinson of TV’s “The Office,” whose singing career fizzled and now he is a dog groomer. Every film like this has a crazy guy, and in this one it’s Rob Corddry (“What Happens in Vegas”), who plays Lou, a self-destructive alcoholic. He is really good.

After Lou tries to kill himself, Adam and Nick decide to take Lou to the ski resort where they had the best times of their lives. Jacob tags along. But when they arrive at the resort, it is aged, broken down and looks terrible.

The four get the same room the buddies had in 1986. Only this time, the room’s hot tub has a dead animal in it. As everyone is getting wasted on alcohol, the hot tub comes to life. They decide to give it a go but accidentally spill an energy drink on the hot tub’s control mechanism. Of course, wink wink, they are transported back to 1986.

In the mirror, they see their younger selves. The film picks up as they encounter old girlfriends, rough situations and some fights. Adam is stabbed near the eye by an ex-girlfriend, but his luck improves when he runs into wide-eyed, cute journalist April, played by Lizzie Caplan (“Cloverfield”). They hit it off.


“Hot Tub Time Machine” has a lot of f-bombs, butt shots and gross humor, which really is befitting of its title.

 The use of 80s music, like that of Spandau Ballet and Cutting Crew, is done very well.

So, the film is worth the time of watching it. And who knows, you may want to be careful what you spill on your hot tub controls, or you could find yourself going “Back To The Future.”

edited by Michele Ristich Gatts