'Hot Tub Time Machine'

'Hot Tub Time Machine' (R) ***

Writers: Josh Heald, Sean Anders and John Morris
Director: Steve Pink
Starring: John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Clark Duke, Chevy Chase, Lizzy Kaplan, Crispin Glover, Collette Wolfe

The makers of "Hot Tub Time Machine" know what they are doing and that is how to make a movie live up to it's title. You expect something really dumb but it takes skill to make a dumb, funny movie. Actually I think "Hot Tub Time Machine" is pretty smart and well written. It is not as laugh out loud funny as say a "Superbad" or a "Hangover" but it is actually smarter than "The Hangover". The movie has characters we like and we actually care about their Hot Tub Time Machine travel. John Cusack and director Steve Pink are masters at this kind of raunchy comedy that always has heart and not the cloying and annoying kind of heart. "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "High Fidelity" are two of those movies and they have never made a weak or bad movie. They don't force the jokes but create them out of very funny characters and actors. The movie is sort of explained by the title and is sort of a raunchy "Back to the Future" type story. The four main characters are pretty much losers in their life now and the Hot Tub time travel might help them get to winner status. The four main characters are played by four very talented actors. They are Cusack who has nailed down the ordinary but very smart and gentle character down pat. There are two new promising and funny actors who by these performances will probably be seen in a lot of movies for now on. They are Craig Robinson from "The Office" and a very funny and scene stealing Rob Corddry from "The John Stewart Show". The cast is rounded out by Clark Duke who has been very good in some bad movies. There is a funny, comeback appearance by Chevy Chase who hasn't been funny in a movie for a while now. There is also a hilarious and smart bit involving Crispin Glover. Glover was in "Back to the Future" and his casting is ingenious. Also there are two appealing performances by two actresses in Lizzy Kaplan and Collette Wolfe. The look and feel of the 80's are pretty spot on and remind us how cheesy and bad the 80's were. So the movie looks funny, has some brilliant moments and always keeps you smiling. It is amazing how someone like John Cusack, who is always very low key, can make us follow him anywhere and Rob Corddry is very funny here. "Hot Tub Time Machine" delivers what you expect it to and it does it well.