Review of Hot Dog... The Movie (1984) by Lilo C — 19 Apr 2009

Yes, Virginia, there once was a time in which the sex comedies had nudity in them. In an era in which every R-rated movies have to tone it down, this movie is a nice throwback to a time in which big breasted women like Shannon Tweed weren't embarrassed to show all they got.

It was also a time in which synthesisers and drum machines were substituted for an actual score to a movie. But I'm being nit picky. This movie is, for no other, reason proof on why Reagan was able to carry 49 states in electoral votes in 1984.

People weren't asking for anything but something simple and Reagan was as simple as they get. The plot is like every other skiing movie from the 1980's. Man wants to go skiing, butts heads with the top dog in charge who has a nice style of hair despite the subfreezing frigid conditions.

Man messes around with one woman but really gets the nicer one. It's like Better Off Dead but with nudity. While that movie had the fat guy from Head of the Class. Hot Dog has David Naughton, had a brief bout with fame in the early 80's with his hit song, "Makin' it!" and a TV show as well as a cult following with Midnight Madness and An American Werewolf in London.

Sadly, Naughton doesn't even get the John Belushi role. He's more or less like a warmed down Boone. There aren't any jokes in this movie. I don't remember laughing. The skiing scenes are yawning.

Well, if you've seen one montage of a skier coming down a hill, you've seen them all. In a more subtle way, I guess since it was made during the Reagan era, there is s a Cold War theme going. The protagonist is a cowboy, just like Reagan made people believe he was.

The bad dude is German, which makes him a Communist. But basically, this movie is forgettable. I just barely remember it as something I wasn't allowed to watch as a child and never did care to spend the $1.

99 to rent at the Video Warehouse as an adult, knowing it would one day come on cable.