The story doesn't make any sense, but it doesn't attempt to. Intentionally ludicrous and all the more enjoyable for it, Hot Tub Time Machine acts as a platform for a group of funny men to act out in outrageous and extreme circumstances.
The film follows three friends and one of their nephews, all of whose lives have taken a turn for the worse. Or rather, their lives maintained a straight path of mediocrity and depression. They are transported to 1986 and are allowed to relive a night from their past. In their quest to return to their own time, they must face the difficult decision of whether or not to try to change the future, knowing that the butterfly effect will make the result unpredictable.
But none of that really matters. This is a comedy, so we care about the jokes, which are frequent, often crude, and usually great. The Office's Craig Robinson plays Nick, a married man whose conflict with his 9 year old cheating-wife-to-be is one of the funniest parts of the film. Joining him is John Cusack as Adam in an unusually silly role for him (then again, he was in 1408). His failed romantic history stems from the loss of his one true high school love, back in - you guessed it! - 1986. His nephew Jacob (Clark Duke) is a basement dwelling loser who hides from human interaction via Second Life and Facebook. Rounding out the merry band is Rob Corddry as Lou, the unanimously-decided sphincter of the group. His over the top personality, accident-prone nature, and substance abuse are the impetus for the whole adventure.
There is a wide array of supporting characters, from Chevy Chase as a mysteriously knowledgeable handyman to Adam's party girl sister Kelly, who conceived (conceives?) Jacob via an unknown donor. The best interaction is between Lou (Corddry) and Jacob (Duke), whose animosity shines through their verbal and physical confrontations. Clark Duke plays the role he's played in the last few films I've seen him in (Kick-Ass, Sex Drive), but what movie wouldn't benefit from a sarcastically worldly jokester? His mission to ensure his future existence acts as a counter to the group's desire to make their lives suck less. Corddry is fantastic as a mildly insane perma-loser. Robinson and Cusack were passable in their roles, but they didn't have the same level of interaction or comedic flavor as the other two.
Hot Tub Time Machine has love, war, science fict - who am I kidding? It's a raunchy, over the top flashback to the best of times and the worst of times. Turn your brain off and go with the flow and you'll have a pleasant time.
