Who knew hot tubs could be THIS much fun! I have to admit that I was skeptical about a movie where a Hot Tub could be a time taveling vehicle. I must say I was very pleasently surprised by how unapologetically funny this movie truly was. From start to finish, Hot Tub Time Machine is the funniest movie of the year so far and the funniest movie since The Hangover. The premise here is nothing new, three best friends Adam (John Cusack), Lou (Rob Corddry) and Nick (“The Office”‘s Craig Robinson) lost in the inevitable mid-life crisis. But when one of them nearly loses his life they band together for a trip to their old stomping grounds in the snowy mountains along with Adam’s 20-something nephew Jacob (Clark Duke). Their cheerful arrival is quickly soured by the site of boarded windows and littered streets. After checking in to the same room where they spent their last great weekend as teenagers, they can’t help but feel nostalgic and decide to have one hell of a night cap in the hot tub. When Lou’s illegal energy drink, Chernobylly, spills on the control panel of the Hot Tub it seems like a harmless short out. All seems fine when they wake up, albeit very hung over, Adam decide they should go skiing. When they get to the bottom of the hill things are very strange in this little old town. Everyone is dressed in very colorful winter wear.

At this point I would love to find out if John Cusack had some real flashbacks (Better Off Dead anyone?). When they make their way into the local diner they soon realize they definitely aren’t in Kansas anymore. They see a banner that says “Winterfest ’86″ and start to have a bit of a panic attack. Nick offers up a one-liner you’re sure to hear over and over again around the water cooler and reality starts to set in for the fellas. They head back to their room and we get a great scene in the bathroom with the mirror, but I’m not gonna give that one up.

The movie really takes off from here. Chevy Chase makes a great cameo in the movie as the Hot Tub repairman/Spirit Guide. His message to the guys always weirdly incrypted and yet blunt at the same time. We find out now that this particular moment that they have been brought to was the pivotal moment in all their lives (especially Jake who technically hasn’t been born yet). What makes this time travel plot unique from others you’ve seen is that what they all have to relive is a horrible moment in their past. Adam has to get stabbed in the eye with a fork by his psycho girlfriend, Nick has to embarrass himself performing with his teen band, Lou has to get the holy hell beaten out of him, and Jacob needs to be conceived by Adam’s sister Kelly (Collette Wolfe).

Seems simple, yet painful, enough right? Well when Adam slightly deviates from the path of his past, Nick and Lou decide they might as well try to do things a bit differently as well. You see the consequences of these deviations manifest when Jacob begins to fade in and out like a T.V. losing the signal. For Jacob it becomes a race against time to get his uncle and friends back on the right path. I was surprised by the more emotionally charged scenes that pop up. Thankfully they never get overly dramatic with well timed comedic breaks in the drama.

Hot Tub Time Machine is full of great 80′s references and really gives you that nostalgic feeling. A great soundtrack, a superb cast, and great writing make Hot Tub Time Machine worth the dip. Come on in, the water’s fine!

We give it 4.5 stars out of 5.

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