Hot Tub Time Machine UNRATED DVD review

An eighties-obsessed comedy gets in on the retro craze...

Hot Tub Time Machine

After seeing the theatrical version of Hot Tub Time Machine, I didn't think it could get any crazier. The unrated release proved me wrong.

This film is an acquired taste - it's got a lot of bad words, sex jokes, a bit of gross-out humor and nudity all presented in a mash-up of 80's teen comedy and modern lunacy. Essentially, if you didn't like the vibe of The Hangover, you're probably not going to dig this one.

The chemistry of the whole cast is a thing of beauty but leads John Cusack, Craig Robinson (The Office, Zack & Miri Make A Porno), Rob Corddry (Upright Citizens Brigade, W., Childrens' Hospital) and Clark Duke (Kick-Ass, Greek) are truly indispensable. Substitute just one of those guys and everything falls apart. I also have to give props to Lizzy Caplan (Party Down, True Blood, Freaks & Geeks), Lyndsy Fonseca (Desperate Housewives), and Collette Wolfe (Semi-Pro, Four Christmases) as the female leads - they definitely held their own. The movie does great job of referencing the 80's and it was especially fun spotting all the self-aware nods to the audience (Karate Kid fans, keep an eye out for a special cameo). Also, Crispin Glover. Because yes.

The picture quality is great and you know the 5.1 Dolby Digital mix is good when characters are walking into frame and their footsteps travel around the room accordingly. The audio set-ups are 5.1 Dolby Digital in English and French with the additional option of English or Spanish subtitles. The extras are few but understandably so (see below).

All in all, is the movie perfect? No. But it made me laugh and I appreciate it's ridiculousness. Before committing to the buy, I'd suggest renting it first to make sure it tickles your funny bone. The lack of extras is bit of a bummer because I just know they have all kinds of great behind-the-scenes footage floating around but the DVD is serviceable.

3 stars

EXTRAS:
The extras menu is sparse but the theatrical version of the film is included so it's not like they had a whole lot of space to work with. The Deleted Scenes are a mix of those cut out entirely and a few that are extended versions of ones in the Unrated version. The theatrical trailer rounds everything out.

Hot Tub Time Machine is out now