HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2 – The Review

Time once more to traverse that tricky minefield of comedy sequels (and you wonder why Kristen Wiig has vehemently said no to BRIDESMAIDS 2!). Seems just yesterday that we were revisiting those three conspiring pals in HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 (which, despite some pans, was miles above the HANGOVER follow-ups and the return of Lloyd and Harry). And now, we’re set to revisit three other pals (it was four, but more on that later) which actually plays as a take-off on a more serious flick from just the last few weeks, PROJECT ALMANAC. Yup, just like Marty McFly and Doc Brown, these dudes can’t refrain from tempting the fates and history. Fire up the jets, grab lotsa’ beverages, and make a splash by jumpin’ into HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2.

The boys have been busy since that first trek nearly five years ago. Adam, played by John Cusack, is a big deal science fiction writer and is off and away on a “spiritual journey” (very smart move, Mr. C!). Nick (Craig Robinson) is a mega music star, mainly by releasing hit tunes before the original artists did thanks to the HTTM. And because of said device, Lou (Rob Cordry) is a hard-partyin’ multi-billionaire having invented the internet. This while his son Jacob (Clark Duke) bitterly lives in his uncaring pop’s shadow. Everything changes during a tragedy at a big gaudy party at Lou’s mansion (while a lightning storm rages, natch’). Hurriedly the trio enter a secret chamber that houses the hot tub that Jacob transplanted from the old ski lodge. And it appears that the person behind said tragedy just used the device, that future fiend! The guys have no choice but to reset controls to the original traveler’s start point. So in order to save 2015 it’s off to far-off 2025 and a race with and against time itself!

The remaining cast mates do their best to fill the void left by Cusack’s absence (and really it is a big hole) to little avail. Cordry comes off as a loud, shrieking metal-head banshee (hey, I know he was obnoxious in the first one, but the volume dial’s broken off here), screeching insults and possessing zero impulse control. Robinson scores some laughs in the early sequences as the most awkward music video star ever, but he seems to lose interest in some of the forced hijinks and tries to coast by on his lovable big teddy bear charm. Neither comics can get use their energy to jump-start the limp material. Craig’s “Office” cohort, Duke gets surly and pouts while staying mad over being mistaken for the butler in the big opening party scene. Often he’s just a verbal punching bag to Cordry’s manic jerk. One of the current stars of his TV alma mater, “The Daily Show”,  Jason Jones tries to match him in smarmy arrogance, but besides a near clever bit about his nickname (he’s called “Winky”, but can’t wink, just blink), he’s just a plot suspect. One attempt  in replacing Cusack is the casting of Adam Scott , the superb Ben of TV’s “Parks and Recreations” as Cusack’s son Adam, Jr who’s simply another wide-eyed nerd for Cordry to bully when he’s not informing the gang about cool future stuff. Also squandered is the beautiful, brilliant Gillian Jacobs of TV’s “Community” as Adam Jr’s flittery, jittery fiance. And don’t be fooled by the ads, Chevy Chase reprising his role as the repairman is in and out of the flick within 40 seconds. Lots of floundering funny folks grasping at straws here.

They won’t find any straws in this limp script. Or any real wit. The only idea that seemed of any interest were the “smart cars” of 2025. As Adam, Jr. explains, nobody owns cars, you just call out for one when they’re needed. Oh, and you’ve got to be nice and compliment them. Now, that might make a funny flick on its own. But just as with  the cast, this idea is ill-served. Like ALMANAC the plot gets mired in the mechanics of time travel (almost repeating the former’s head-scratching chalkboard scene), while stopping the plot for a trite TV game show sequence (hosted by a smart star who should’ve known better). The pedestrian direction shuffles from one misfiring joke to the next, making the flick seems eons longer than its 93 minute running time. They try to end on a high note with the gang photoshopped with history’s icons (shown in the TV spots), but it can’t erase the searing disappointment of not being able to go back in time ourselves and intervene at the box office. Somebody should’ve drained the stale script along with the water from this tattered tub right after the original outing. Time’s up!

1 Out of 5