The Nevada Sagebrush

Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, John Cusack and Clark Duke star as a group of down-on-their-luck friends who are sent back in time to 1986 after spending a wild night drinking in a ski resort hot tub. United Artists/MGM Studios

“Hot Tub Time Machine” combines all the right elements of a buddy movie, a slapstick comedy and a science fiction adventure to create the amusing tale of a group of friends that are sent back in time after a drunken night spent in a ski resort hot tub.

Three old friends are brought together after a long time apart when one of them, Lou (Rob Corddry, “W.”), nearly dies of carbon monoxide poisoning while drunkenly singing along to Mötley Crüe’s “Home Sweet Home” with the car running in his garage. His friends Adam (John Cusack, “2012”) and Nick (Craig Robinson, “Miss March”), whose journeys into middle age have also been wrought with disappointment, decide to take Lou on an escape to Kodiak Valley, the ski resort that was the setting for some of the most memorable adventures of their youth. They bring along Adam’s nerdy nephew Jacob (Clark Duke, “Sex Drive”) and set off on their trip only to discover that Kodiak Valley is run-down and nearly deserted.

After a night of drinking and subsequent passing out in the hotel’s hot tub, they find themselves waking up during Winterfest ’86, having traveled through time during the night. They are then presented with a dilemma: Should they retrace their original steps in order to leave their modern lives unchanged, or alter the past in order to give themselves a second chance at leading the fulfilling lives they were unable to experience the first time around?

“Hot Tub Time Machine” is actually funny all the way through, which is a difficult feat. One of the most entertaining running gags is provided by ‘80s star Crispin Glover (of “Back to the Future” fame) as Phil, the hotel bellhop who is expected to lose an arm at some point during the weekend. Duke is excellent at portraying the stereotypical modern teenager who is glued to his electronic devices and often the only voice of reason within the group, and Corddry even manages to make a character as obnoxious as Lou extremely likeable.

In addition, “Hot Tub Time Machine” succeeds on an emotional level. The story of lifelong friendships and getting a second chance at life make the comedy much stronger.

The movie also contains an excellent ‘80s soundtrack: a sequence shows glam-metal-group Poison performing at Winterfest ’86, another scene features Nick’s band performing hits like Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” and Mötley Crüe plays through all the right moments.

Altogether, “Hot Tub Time Machine” is quite a fun and entertaining tale of friendship, redemption, neon ski suits and partying like it’s 1986.

Casey O’Lear can be reached at colear@nevadasagebrush.com.

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