Movie Review: ‘HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2’ – A Major Time Lapse In-between Laughs

Cole Clay // Film Critic

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2 | 93 min | Rated R
Director: Steve Pink
Cast: Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke and Adam Scott

Why was this film made? The first HOT TUB TIME MACHINE was a modest success with some charismatic stars such as Rob Corddry, John Cusack, Clark Duke and Craig Robinson being men (or how they think men should act when they get together for a time-hopping escapade). It’s already a ridiculous ploy.

With HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2 the gang is back, minus John Cusack (HIGH FIDELITY), and add a winsome Adam Scott (PARKS AND RECREATION) for more of the same adventures. This time, they should have been made for TV, but this appalling material would never make it even on Comedy Central late night. It ranges from televised sodomy to shotgun blasts to the groin; however, Jason Jones (THE DAILY SHOW) and Kumail Nanjiani (SILICON VALLEY) show up for rather funny supporting roles and that’s got to count for something.

Really what were you expecting from a film called HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2?

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2 opens tonight.

Preston Barta

I have been working as a film journalist since 2010, dividing the first four years between radio broadcasting and entertainment writing in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. In 2014, I entered Fresh Fiction (FreshFiction.tv) as the features editor. The following year, I stepped into the film critic position at the Denton Record-Chronicle, a daily North Texas print publication. My time is dedicated to writing theatrical film reviews, at-home entertainment columns, and conducting interviews with on-screen talent and filmmakers, as well as hosting a podcast devoted to genre filmmaking (called My Bloody Podcast). I've been married for ten happy years, and I have one son who is all about dinosaurs just like his dad.