Hot Tub Time Machine (Blu-ray)

In the comedy “Hot Tub Time Machine,” which could best be described as “Back to the Future” meets “The Hangover” audiences are taken on a time trotting feature that could instantly become a favorite amongst audiences who enjoy a good laugh but also eighties reminiscence. In the film, four friends, played by John Cusak, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duke, find themselves transported back in time to 1986 courtesy of a time shifting hot tub. There the four friends find themselves reliving a weekend filled with drunkenness randomness and life changing mistakes. Conversely, the four friends find the weekend as an opportunity to change their future lives for the greater good.

An incredibly inventive and fun comedy, “Hot Tub Time Machine” ensures audiences with a comedic narrative that also boosts some the funniest performances from the films principal talent. Headed by John Cusak, who incongruously is an alum of eighties comedy classics including “Say Anything” and “Hot Pursuit,” truly shines with his role as a down on his luck insurance salesmen lacking any real self merit. [John] Cusak, who has had a rather lucrative career with many diverse roles, shows his chops with the film by showing to audiences he still loves taking on a project that will make audiences laugh like those films that help jump start his career. Like [John] Cusak, I also have to give a reverential round of applause to the likes of supporting players Rob Conddry and Crispin Glover, who indubitably bring the house down with their comedies turns as a suicidal middle aged man; Conddry and a one-armed bell hop; [Crispin] Glover. Crispin Glover especially is fun in his character introductory scene which finds him pulling the four lead characters luggage in on a luggage carrier.

Director Steve Pink, who has built a reputable relationship with John Cusack having worked on those projects including “The Jack Bull” and “High Fidelity” to name a few, shows his great fortitude for taking on a project that in itself is rather ridiculous. I know I have made quite a number of references to how foolish this film is in terms of its plot and name but in all seriousness this is film which truly outshined itself after watching it. From a personal standpoint what makes “Hot Tub Time Machine” are the numerous references to eighties coming of age comedies. Various scenes in the film reflect scenes observed in such films including “Better off Dead” and “Sixteen Candles” just to name a few. These filmic allusions alone make “Hot Tub Time Machine” a rather congratulatory film and one that observes this great era whose comedies that are just as memorable as they were when they were originally released.

"Hot Tub Time Machine" as a whole is a jovial time traveling excursion that even Doc Brown, of the "Back to the Future" franchise would react to with a "great scott." Even though the film does lack some consistencies in the plot or even giving a rationale explanation to Chevy Chase’s character, other than the mythical time travel guide, the film still succeeds in great measures.

Brace yourself for a out of this world time traveling comedy-adventure that’ll surely remind you of the grandeur that eighties comedies had and still bestow on audiences! “Hot Tub Time Machine” is now available on Blu-ray high definition and DVD.