Review of Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015) by Matthew C — 17 Jul 2015

John Cusack, you are missed.

Okay, so he probably couldn't save this movie either. Aside from a couple of mild chuckles and some even more mildly-interesting comedic, sci-fi concepts, this pointless entry in the Hot Tub franchise (can't believe I just said "Hot Tub franchise") is horribly unfunny. Its grading, unnecessarily mean-spirited, and plagued by bad improvs that should've been left on the cutting room floor.

While a trip to the future seems the next logical step for these characters, there's very little imagination or nuance to the proceedings. Indeed, much of it feels very derivative -- taking far too many cues from Back to the Future 2. There are other sci-fi influences, but the film is too forgettable to remember them.

There seems to be a writer or two missing from the first installment. Perhaps those dudes could've brought some charm and heart to this outing had they been invited. Perhaps the lack of an 1980s setting meant forgoing the somewhat John Hughes-ian sentiments that helped these despicable characters seem likable. As it stands, this sequel seems to have been forged by people who unwaveringly adored the comic actors on board, thought they can do no wrong in the improv department, and decided the best way to go this time around was to make a comedy with wall-to-wall gross-out irreverence, douchebaggery, and countless moments of nonsensical anti-humor. Sorry, but all that rarely works.