Merrick here...


FilmSavior and Boondocks OUT got an early look at HOT TUB TIME MACHINE & sent in their thoughts.

The film opens on March 26. That's still a while away - these reviewers don't indicate if their screening presented the completed film, a close-to-final cut, or what. So, just in case, keep in mind a few tweeks may be made to the movie between now and its release date.

Nonetheless, here's a general sense of what they saw. First up: FilmSavior...

Just got out of an advanced screening of Hot Tub Time Machine in Long Beach. After seeing the two redband trailers released over the past few weeks, I had restrained expectations. You see, the number one problem this film is going to have is the comparison to The Hangover.

John Cusack character = Bradley Cooper character (the normal, "cool" guy)

Craig Robinson character = Ed Helms character (a slave to their wife)

Rob Corddry character = Zak Galifianakis character (steals every scene)

Clarke Duke character - Justin Bartha character (reacts to the other characters only; forgettable)

This is no Hangover. But it has some hilarious moments that would be worth the price of matinee. I'm not going to spoil anything since it doesn't come out until March. So I'll just give you the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

The Good:

*Rob Corddry finally gets his time to really shine and man does he take it by the balls. Much like Zack G., he steals every scene that he's in. Wait until you see what happens when he loses a bet. Wow.

*Crispin Glover as the Doorman. The running joke with Glover is hilarious and never gets old. He's always fantastic and seems to be having a great time with this.

*The title. Best title of any film in years. Gets straight to the retarded point.

The Bad:

*Chevy Chase tried but did not get one laugh from the audience. He was painful to watch. If he wasn't such an essential character (well, kind of essential), I'd recommend cutting him out of the film outright. R.I.P. Chevy.

*The story. It's a comedy, so no reason to get into time travel logistics. We'll leave that for Lost final season. But they really could have built on more of the 80's vs. present day time travel a bit more. The 80's are great to make fun of. It wasn't done enough.

The Ugly:

*Don't expect too much from this film, but there are some really hilarious moments. The middle loses a bit of steam, but really picks up towards a rewarding ending. This is definitely a guy movie, even more so than The Hangover. Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, and Crispin Glover were amazing. Cusack had his moments and Clarke Duke wasn't given much to work with.

When you see this movie, you'll realize why this quick review is all over the place. It's hilarious, retarded, nonsensical, thoughtful, a waste of time, and great entertainment all at the same time. Chew on that.

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eEre's anopther look at HTTM from Boondocks OUT...

We were at the LB26 and had to wait for almost 2 hours but it was totally worth it.

MAJOR SPOILERS

Hot Tub Time Machine is totally fucking retarded and I mean that as a total thumbs up. The title is the plot and all the set up you need. Cusack, Corrdry (don't watch the daily show but like him), Craig Robinson (LOVE the office) and Clark Duke (my girlfriend likes greek) have shitty lives so after Corrdry accidentally almost kills himself they go back to the hotel where they had the best times to make him feel better. The town and hotel suck now so they end up getting trashed in the hot tub and wake up in the 80s. Really, that's the plot and somehow it works. The movie starts off pretty funny but once they go back in time it goes fraking crazy.

Back in the 80s they all start off trying to do the same things from before but realize what's the point so Cusack gets high and hooks up with the hot girl from true blood, Robinson becomes a rockstar and Corrdry kills it by drinking, fighting and trying to screw every hot girl he meets. Clark Duke is trying to get them back to now but Chevy Chase who plays the repair man keeps fucking with him and confusing him for a chick (my girlfriend's favorite running joke).

I don't want to blow the whole movie but there are great moments with Crispin Glover (he has no arm in our time so they keep waiting for him to lose it in the 80s) and a bet Corrdry loses (the biggest laugh from the audience) and Robinson calling his wife (who is only 9 back then) and talking dirty to her for cheating on him in the future.

The ending is awesome (Lougle!) and there was a funny music video at the end. The only thing I didn't like is that the guy who plays the younger cusack doesn't look like young cusack but it didn't ruin the movie or anything.

My VERDICT is that this is a fucking funny check your brain at the door movie and see it with friends, it might be the first movie since avatar I see twice.

Hope you can use this one.

Boondocks OUT

So there you have it - two unrelated looks at the film, both saying pretty much the same thing. This is directed by the writer of HIGH FIDELITY (who also produced ENTOURAGE on HBO) and co-written by the co-writer/director of SEX DRIVE. Could be fun after all?

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