I’ve been meaning to review a more serious trailer lately, but everything that seems to be coming out is either an action movie or a comedy movie. I was going to review the new Disney/Pixar animated film Inside Out, but I enjoyed the first Hot Tub Time Machine so much that there was no way around me doing this. I promise those who are looking for something more dramatic that I will in time get to those trailers, but for now let me revel in this. For those of you who are not well versed in the first Hot Tub Time Machine, it’s basically the over-the-top version of Back to the Future. I can hear a lot of people screaming at me right now for that remark, but I really don’t have anything else to liken it to.
The trailer begins where the last film left off. Lou (Rob Corddry) is still the “Father of the Internet” after their trip back from the 80’s where he basically invents everything popular today and makes sure that his buddies Nick (Craig Robinson) and Jacob (Clark Duke) have come along for all the wealth and fame. Things have gone swimmingly for the gang until one night they decide to give the whole time traveling hot tub another whirl and accidentally wind up in the future where they discover somewhere along the line everything has come crashing down. After finding out that Lou is shot by an unknown assailant, the guys travel to various points in the past and future to find out who is trying to end their good time. Needless to say, we are going to see some pretty funny time gags in this movie.
I never felt that this movie really needed a sequel, but at the same time I can totally understand why there is one. With time travel, the stories you can tell are literally limitless. I like the idea of Corddry and the rest taking their comedy to different points in time, which is shown in one part where a version of Lou from the Revolutionary War comes through the portal and asks for their help in starting America. Clark Duke’s character then tells Craig Robinson that his character might not be super welcome at that time but to come along anyway. There’s just so much for them to make fun of and I really enjoyed the way this group played off each other in the first film. It looks like the same dynamic is going to be in this film, down to Corddry and Robinson making fun of Clark Duke’s character for being a super nerd even though he has a smoking hot girlfriend and is insanely rich.
One thing I’m glad that has changed in this film is the lack of John Cusack. His character has been replaced by Adam Scott (Step Brothers, Parks and Recreation) and I think that’s a smart move. I was never overly fond of Scott, but after seeing him in this trailer I don’t think he will play that major of a role in the film, instead leaving that to the three main guys from the first movie. I do think he will be a strong addition to the film and I also look forward to seeing him and Gillian Jacobs (Community) play off each other.
Will I See This?
If I haven’t made it obvious by now, yes, I will be seeing this movie. Very rarely do comedy sequels pan out and become better than the original (I’m looking at you Dumb and Dumber To) but I think Hot Tub Time Machine 2 has a good chance to be better. Hot Tub Time Machine 2 comes out in February 20th, 2015 and stars Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Adam Scott, and Clark Duke.
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