REVIEW — “Hot Tub Time Machine 2”

Does “The Hangover 2” taking place in the future sound like a good idea to you?  If so this movie is for you.  Otherwise, steer clear.

Most of the gang is back for “Hot Tub Time Machine 2.”  Lou (Rob Corddry), Nick (Craig Robinson), and Jacob(Clark Duke).  All that’s missing is Adam (John Cusack).  Instead we meet his son from the future, Adam Jr. (Adam Scott).  Most of the plot revolves around people (and vehicles) wanting to kill Lou.  He’s such a reprehensible character that it’s hard to understand how he has any friends at all, and why they’d go through so much trouble trying to prevent his assassination.  Even his son, Jacob, has planned his murder in great detail.

Somehow this movie is funnier than it has any right to be.  There are a number of humorous moments, most of them coming from Craig Robinson, especially with his pop music ripoffs. He’s become a celebrity by releasing #1 hits himself, prior to the original artists recording them.  There’s a bunch of fun movie references, the characters are self aware of how their actions are “Just like Terminator” and other time travel movies.  Adam Scott also has a lot of fun with his character.

The biggest problem, besides the completely nonsensical plot, is the cruel tone of the film.  The characters are constantly belittling each other, sometimes hilariously, other times viciously.  And again, Lou is such a hateful person, that we -want- him to die!  The world, and this movie, would be a better place without him.

Will you laugh in this movie?  Probably.  It’s funnier then a lot of other comedies that have come out in the past few years.  But it’s also meaner and cruder than most comedies as well.

2.5 out of 5 Stars