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Hot Tub Time Machine
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment / MGM Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (12th October 2010). |
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The Film
 I almost find writing a review for a film called “Hot Tub Time Machine” (2010) to be redundant because it’s one of those rare titles that tells you just about everything you need to know from the name alone. Four guys get drunk, they all get into a hot tub, and it takes them back in time. And believe me, it happens in an even more ridiculous way in the film than you’d expect. I was lucky enough to see the film early at one of the many free screenings they held nationally, and I left the theater telling everyone that it was easily one of the funniest comedies I’d seen in a couple years. This isn’t some sly, witty comedy; it’s a brash, dirty film that throws so much at you it can be hard to keep up on the first viewing. It works because the writers obviously knew that a movie with such an absurd title has to really bring the funny if it’s going to be embraced as something more than the next dumb gimmick to suck away our money. It rarely takes anything serious at all; nearly every scene has some comedic punchline to it. Each member of the cast has a different style of comedy, so the material never feels stale because they’re all able to deliver just as well as the others. Toss in a few running gags, lots of drugs, alcohol and Crispin Glover, and you’ve got the makings for one of the least-likely comedies that actually works in a long time. Three long-time best friends – straight-man Adam (John Cusack), former one-hit wonder Nick (Craig Robinson), and hardcore party animal Lou (Rob Corddry) – pack up and head to Kodiak Valley, the former home of some of the best times of their lives, after a possible failed suicide attempt by Lou. Also along for the ride is Jacob (Clark Duke), Adam’s nephew (and a constant source of irritation for Lou). They’re pumped to relive the glory days of big hair, Poison, cocaine and wild sex, but shock sets in once the boys hit town to find it half deserted and lifeless. The once-happening hotel is now a run-down flea motel and there’s no sign of the endless parade of scantily clad women that once roamed the mountain. Everyone begins to think the trip was a bad idea, so they do the only thing they can to make it worthwhile: they all get drunk and naked in the balcony hot tub. During the melee, some of Lou’s illegal Russian energy drink spills all over the console and – wouldn’t you know it – the tub transports them right back to the rockin’ days of 1986. Now the guys can relive those days they held so dear, but Jacob warns them that, thanks to the butterfly effect, they mustn’t deviate from how things happened all those years ago or else it could drastically alter the future. But temptation proves too much for them to handle, and soon they’re all living out the fantasies they wanted to. The cost, however, is that Jacob could cease to exist, so he tries working with a mysterious hot tub repair man (Chevy Chase) to find out how to get the guys back to present day before his own future is erased. The plot is secondary to the humor here, as it should be. You don’t have much time to ponder the outlandish nature of the story because the jokes are flying too fast. I think that anyone has the potential to get a night of laughs out of watching the film, but those who grew up in the 80's are going to have some serious affection for much of the material. Hell, I almost got a little misty-eyed when I saw the bright yellow cassette walkman and a dude rocking a popped collar under a “Miami Vice” shirt. We all know that, cool as it seemed at the time, the 80's are now a comedic goldmine rife with material that will last well into the next millennium. Who among us can’t say that they weren’t rocking parachute pants at one point in time? Ok, maybe most of us won’t own up to it, but these neon nightmares were what today’s hipster outfit of flannel button-ups and skinny jeans are. The costume designers deserve as much credit as the writers do because the authenticity of the decade is palpable. The film does little to hide it obvious 80's influences, chief among them “Back to the Future Part II” (1989). Time traveling aside, there’s a hilarious scene where Lou decides to use his knowledge of the future to place some heavy bets at the local bar. Taking that scene up to a new level of awesome is William Zabka, a man most will remember as the Johnny from “The Karate Kid” (1984). You know, as in “sweep the leg, Johnny!” Lou places abet with him that no man without future knowledge would ever dare, and the resulting aftermath might have some dry heaving on their couch. As another nod to “Back to the Future” (1985), we have the original George McFly himself, Crispin Glover, starring as a one-armed, surly bell hop, Phil. Of course, once we go back in time, we see that Phil still has both of his arms. And so commences one of the film’s best running gags: how fate will cause Phil to lose his appendage. As if the precarious, possible-arm-loss situations he finds himself in weren’t enough, Lou always seems to be right there when they happen, and he sits back with a grin waiting for the big moment. I can’t say any one cast member stands out more than the others. John Cusack, himself a relic of the 80's, plays a sad soul who has just lost his wife and still longs for his “great white buffalo”, Jenny (Lyndsy Fonseca), the girl he “foolishly” broke up with all those years ago. His stoic, existential outlook on their unique situation is the polar opposite to both Lou and Nick who see this as an opportunity to reclaim some glory. Nick, a one-hit wonder who now works at an upscale dog groomers (amusingly named ‘Sup Dawg), decides to avoid his catastrophic stage performance of 1986 by playing songs that haven’t even been written yet by some of today’s hottest artists, resulting in him bringing down the house. Lou, ever the opportunist who simply doesn’t give a shit, takes things one step further by remaining in the past when his friends leave… and claiming responsibility for just about every major trademark invented since the internet boom. And then there’s Jacob, who, despite offering a very pragmatic way of thought on their conundrum, spends the film running around, occasionally half-transparent, worried that at any moment he’ll cease to exist since, according to Lou, at this point in time he should be “swimming around in some dude’s ballsack”. The cover art exclaims the film is “funnier than “The Hangover” (2009)”. Now, I know the only reason that film is mentioned in nearly every ad for a comedy is because it’s the most successful R-rated comedy of all-time, but the veracity of that claim can be confirmed. I think that “Hot Tub Time Machine” did a better job of keeping the comedic pace rolling. Jokes come quickly, some work and some don’t, but you rarely have time to react poorly to the bad ones before something freakishly deviant comes along and steamrolls it right out of your mind. As much as I’d love to spout off about some of the film’s best gags, which I have little doubt wouldn’t sell almost anyone on seeing it, the fact is that you’re much better off not knowing a thing aside from the general plot. Theaters are frequently inundated with comedies every month which proclaim to be the next hot thing in bad taste, but “Hot Tub Time Machine” is the de facto victor among any from the last few years. Little as you might expect from a film with that title, it should manage to surpass modest expectations for most. This Blu-ray includes both the "theatrical" and "unrated" cuts of the film. I had seen this in theaters about 7 months ago, but when I watched the "unrated" cut I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what was new. I’m usually good at noticing little bits here and there, and I might’ve picked up on a few, but I think the point I’m trying to make is that whatever has been added in doesn’t really add all that much to the film. If I had to guess, there are probably a few more dick and fart jokes, maybe a bare ass and certainly more of Lou’s profanity-laced tirades. The difference in running times is under 2 minutes.
Video
The film might take place in the VHS-laden era of the past, but this 1.85:1 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encoded transfer is certainly a product of the present. Comedies have never been known for their visual flair, and this is no exception, but the film looks marvelous in high-definition. Skin tones and facial close-ups reveal a high amount of detail and natural coloration. The warm browns and earthy tones of the Kodiak Resort will immediately take viewers back to the lodges they might remember having stayed at all those years ago. On the opposite side of that spectrum, the bright, vibrant colors of the 80's radiate on screen among the white snowy hillsides and dark cabin interiors. Film grain is present, but it never becomes a hindrance to the image. There isn’t much I can complain about with this picture, aside from a few scattered soft focus shots and minor black level issues; this is a sound transfer which, at the “matted” ratio, looks exquisite on a large screen high-definition television set.
Audio
The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound track mixed at 48kHz/24-bit hits all the right notes, most of which are some hard-rockin’ tunes of good ol’ 1986. Mötley Crüe never sounded better when Lou is revving up his engine along to “Home Sweet Home”. Films that take place in a different time period tend to reply heavily on that era’s musical selections since it makes transporting the viewer there that much easier. “Hot Tub Time Machine” rocks through a bevy of hits, and they all fill the soundscape with great clarity. The surround use here is minima, though I think that’s best for a picture like this. Skiers, partiers, guests and concert attendees are all present in the rears while our main squad of leads crack joke after joke. Dialogue is clear and decipherable, even when there’s a large crowd hooting and hollering in the scene. The LFE doesn’t have much to do unless there’s music present, though the most use it gets is during a cover of a Black Eyed Peas song. Ugh. There is also a French Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound track included. Subtitles are available in English for the hearing impaired and Spanish.
Extras
“Hot Tub Time Machine” hits Blu-ray with a fairly standard slate of bonus materials. The 2-disc set comes with a handful of featurettes, deleted scenes, theatrical trailers and a second disc containing a digital copy of the "unrated" version of the film. A group commentary with the cast would have been a nice inclusion, but I’d imagine that getting all these guys together in one room isn’t easy. To be honest, I don’t really feel like this is one of those films that needed a wealth of supplements to make a purchase any more appealing. It’s a film about a hot tub that functions as a time machine – not a whole lot of depth to be explored, if you know what I mean. DISC ONE: A reel of deleted scenes (1080p) runs for 11 minutes and 48 seconds. They aren’t available to watch individually, most are minor scene extensions or additional scenes which were wisely cut. There is a funny series of improv lines when Lou is about to make good on his bet by blowing Nick, though. The film’s theatrical trailer (1080p) runs for 2 minutes and 26 seconds. Four theatrical promotional spots (1080p) are available for the following: - “Production: Acting Like Idiots” runs for 1 minute and 38 seconds, the film’s four main cast members discuss the joys of making a film with a premise as ridiculous as its title. - “Chevy Chase: The Nicest Guy in Hollywood” runs for 1 minute and 42 seconds, the main cast talks about the experience of working with an 80's comedy legend, and Chase surprisingly gets in on the discussion (brief as it is). Of course, anyone who knows much about Chase outside of film has probably heard he’s far form the nicest guy in any town. - “Totally Radical Outfits: Dayna Pink” runs for 1 minute and 34 seconds, Pink, the film’s costume designer, and the cast talk about how much fun the fashion of the 80's was and the nostalgic trip they took seeing so many old outfits back again. - “Crispin Glover: One-Armed Bell Hop” runs for 1 minute and 32 seconds, this is a very brief look at Glover’s character, who was easily one of the film’s highlights thank to the running gag of how he’ll eventually lose his limb. Finally, the disc opens with some bonus trailers (1080p) for the following: - “Fox Digital Copy” spot runs for 54 seconds. - “Our Family Wedding” runs for 2 minutes and 22 seconds. - “Date Night” runs for 2 minutes and 38 seconds. DISC TWO: This is a digital copy of the "unrated" version of the film, and is compatible with both Windows Media and iTunes devices. The file size comes in at around 1.42GB, and when sampled on an iPhone 4 the picture looks razor sharp with solid contrast levels and good stereo sound.
Packaging
The 2-disc set comes packed in an eco-case with each disc housed on a hub opposite the other. The included slip-cover has an image of the 4 leads as adults, but the cover beneath features the same shot with their youthful counterparts. Since it’s rare to find a slipcover that deviates from the artwork beneath, consider this one of the cooler offerings.
Overall
This is the most dumb fun you’re likely to have watching a comedy, trust me. The cast all works, the material is spot-on, the jokes fly fast and most will stick so well you’ll miss the follow-ups. The Blu-ray sports a fantastic video transfer, and the audio isn’t a total slouch either. The bonus materials are weak, but I’ve found the best one of all to be the digital copy because now I can watch the film anytime I want.
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