HOT ROD (2007)

Directed By: Akiva Schaffer 
Written By: Pam Brady 
Cinematography By: Andrew Dunn 
Editor: Malcolm Campbell 


Cast: Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Isla Fisher, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Sissy Spacek, Ian McShane, Will Arnett, Chris Parnell, Britt Irvin 


Rod Kimble is a naïf, a slacker living in a small US town with his mom, his younger brother, and his stepfather whose respect he craves. He also misses his dead dad, whom he thinks was Evel Knievel's back-up. Rod, a man-child, believes that he is a stunt man. When his stepfather needs an operation, with help from his brother and his slacker pals, Rod hatches a plan to set a school-bus-jumping record on his moped. First, his crew and he have to raise money to rent the buses and build the ramp. Trouble is, Rod's inept at his chosen career. Looming failure is complicated by the return of Denise, Rod's next-door neighbor and secret heartthrob, who is home from college. Is public humiliation at hand?

This is a strange comedy that seems to go off on tangents that sometimes has nothing to do with the rest of the story. It's almost like this is a more made up of sketches all involving the same character.

Maybe this movie would have worked better if the character of ROD was introduced through sketches on Saturday night live, which star Andy Samberg was on at the time. Especially considering this is kind of a SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE movie.

This film plays like an 80's movie but is not a total homage. Which makes one kind of have a soft spot for it. The film is essentially a riff on Super Dave only with a much younger cast.

This film is really stupid and also an Acquired taste. It all really depends on how funny you really think Andy Samberg is if you like his semi stupid absurdist sense of humor you will love this. If not toy may find something to chuckle at now and then.

The very loose plot is about ROD an amateur stuntman. Who wants the respect and love of his stepfather. When his stepfather becomes sick he is determined to raise the money. So his stepfather can get better and he can then kick his stepfather's ass to prove to him how much of a man he is and then finally will he win his respect. Even though the script says it is written by Pam Brady you can see Andy Samberg and his lonely island cohorts Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer who also directed fingerprints all over it. As the film was rewritten by them to fit their comedic style.

Strangely enough none of the cast embarrassed themselves. They give a lot of energy into their roles. Unfortunately it was not for a better project. It's not surprising this film was once intended to star Will Ferrell.

One major problem was Isla Fisher so funny and energetic in WEDDING CRASHERS here has nothing to do but be the love interest and look pretty. Even Any Adams in TALLADEGA NIGHTS had more to do and some actual funny lines as the love interest. Isla fisher is just there to stand around. So that it feels like a truly missed opportunity. Which unfortunately seems to happen to Her with most of her roles.

Though throughout the film there are plenty of scene Stealers that help glide the film along. Especially Bill Hader.

The film just feels very slight, it reeks of a beginners film. Where the comedy is all over the place and no style is clearly defined, but it’s cute and harmless plus has a Saturday night Live throw everything at the wall and see what sticks sensibility.

The film Shares the same basic plot line as DIRTY WORK, which also starred then-current cast members of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Both films are centered around an unsuccessful young man attempting to raise fifty thousand dollars for his father, a cranky ex-boxer, to have a heart transplant.

It feels like a film that indebts itself to 80's cliches and the grown children who still linger in the suburbs who never quite grow up and are still trying to live the memories of youth.


GRADE: C