Film Review: Hot Tub Time Machine 2

Steve Pink’s sequel Hot Tub Time Machine 2 lacks the waggish charm of its predecessor. Those looking for belly laughs will be sorely disappointed.

As a successful tech billionaire and rock star, Lou’s attitude in 2015 gets him into trouble. In order to save him, Nick and Jacob realise they must take another trip in the hot tub time machine…

Director Steve Pink and writer Josh Heald return with most of the cast (barring star John Cusack) for Hot Tub Time Machine 2. Unfortunately, the team cannot replicate the humour of the first film, bawdy as it may have been, for this follow-up. The crude humour is even more present, yet it fails raise laughs.

The film’s narrative fails to capture the imagination. As with the first film, Hot Tub Time Machine 2 borrows from other time travel movies, particularly Back to the Future 2. With the majority of the film set in the future,  this sequel loses the nostalgia factor that Hot Tub Time Machine offered. Time travel pop cultural references are back, but feel tired and overused in this instalment. The costumes, music, and references are no longer a source of amusement.

Hot Tub Time Machine 2‘s main failing is its script. Other elements in the film cannot compensate for this defect. What is left is for the main characters to carry the film. Unfortunately, they are not strong enough to do this. Lou’s schtick gets annoying fast, and Nick is not given enough decent lines. The missing Adam is not felt as such; with the calibre of the script, his inclusion would not make much difference.

Performances in the film suffice. Craig Robinson’s comic talent is underused. Adam Scott does a suitable job, but is not helped by the script. The soundtrack is not as effective as in the original film.

Ultimately, Hot Tub Time Machine 2 fails to make viewers laugh. Without the comedy, the murder mystery plot does not engage, and attempts at drama fall flat. Give this one a wide berth.

Stuff To Look At

Plenty of trailers this week, with Mortdecai, The Maze Runner, Maps to the Stars and more…

Mortdecai

Here is the first trailer for Mortdecai. The film stars Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor. Depp plays Charlie Mortdecai, an art dealer on a mission to recover a stolen painting. The film will be released in January 2015.

The Maze Runner

Above is an introduction to the characters in upcoming action thriller The Maze Runner. Based on the best-selling novel, The Maze Runner is set in a post-apocalyptic world. The film will hit UK screens on 10th October 2014.

Maps to the Stars

David Cronenberg’s latest Maps to the Stars is about the celebrity-obsessed culture. The film features an enviable cast, including Julianne Moore, John Cusack, Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska. Maps to the Stars will be released in UK cinemas on 26th October 2014.

Love, Rosie

Love Rosie is a new British comedy starring Lily Collins and Sam Claflin. The film focuses on best friends Rosie and Alex who decide to attend university together in the US. Love Rosie is scheduled for release on 22nd October 2014.

Planes 2: Fire and Rescue

Planes 2: Fire and Rescue is out in cinemas now. The above video shows how to draw protagonist Dusty. No matter how good the instruction, mine would still turn out looking nothing like that. Although I did draw a good Mrs Potts once.

Horns

Well this looks unsettling. Supernatural thriller Horns stars Daniel Radcliffe, Juno Temple and Max Minghella. The film hits UK cinemas on 29th October 2014, just in time for Halloween.

Highlights: Woody Allen Collection

A new boxset of the prolific director’s work, the Woody Allen Collection is available this week. In addition to Barbara Kopple’s 1997 documentary Wild Man Blues about the musical avocation of Woody Allen, the collection includes the director’s cinematic releases from 1994 to 2000. The films were released after my personal Allen favourite Manhattan Murder Mystery, and do not feature his best-known work. Nevertheless, here is why you should be watching these films…

Bullets Over Broadway

A playwright is forced to cast a mobster’s girlfriend in his latest drama in order to get it produced.

Why You Should Watch It: The film stars John Cusack in the ‘Woody Allen’ role.

Celebrity

The fortunes of a husband and wife differ following their divorce.

Why You Should Watch It: Leonardo DiCaprio plays a teen heartthrob in his post-Titanic role.

Deconstructing Harry

An author suffering with writer’s block starts to remember events from his past, whilst his fictional characters come to life.

Why You Should Watch It: Harry Block is one of Woody Allen’s quintessential roles.

Everyone Says I Love You

With her half-sister getting engaged, a New York girl decides to set her father up with a beautiful woman in a shaky marriage.

Why You Should Watch It: The film is a musical! Drew Barrymore, Ed Norton et al demonstrating their singing abilities.

Mighty Aphrodite

After discovering his adopted son is a genius, a sportswriter seeks out the boy’s borth mother

Why You Should Watch It: Mira Sorvino won an Oscar for her role in the film.

Small Time Crooks

A crook and his wife prosper after a botched bank job’s cover business becomes wildly successful.

Why You Should Watch It: Small Time Crooks was Woody Allen’s biggest grossing film of the 1990s in the US.

Sweet and Lowdown

A jazz guitarist faces gangsters and falls in love in the 1930s.

Why You Should Watch It: The film focuses on one of Allen’s greatest loves; jazz.

The Woody Allen Collection is available on DVD from 7th July 2014.

Stuff To Look At

Plenty of cinematic delights, including the latest trailer for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, a clip from The Book Thief and more…

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Here is the latest trailer for Captain America: The Winter Solider. The film sees the return of Chris Evans in the title role, plus Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is due for UK release on 28th March 2014.

The Book Thief

Based on the best-selling book by Markus Zusak, The Book Thief stars Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson. The above clip is from the story, which is set during World War II. The Book Thief is released on 31st January 2014.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Following the release of the latest trailer for Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, here is the new poster for the film. The film seems to be pushing the 1980s setting, which is never a bad thing. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues hits UK screens on 20th December 2013.

Non-Stop

Thriller Non-Stop stars Liam Neeson as an Air Marshall in a very perilous position. The trailer reads like Speed on a plane. Non-Stop is due for release on 28th February 2014.

American Hustler

Christian Bale is barely recognisable in American Hustler. It’s like the 1970s threw up all over David O. Russell’s film. Also starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustler hits screens on 20th December in the West End and 3rd January 2014 nationwide.

The Butler

Lee Daniels’ The Butler is just brimming with stars. Led by Forest Whitaker, the film also stars Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Mariah Carey and many others. The Butler is released in the UK on 15th November 2013.

Film Review: The Frozen Ground

The Frozen Ground in a crime thriller that offers some good tension and an interesting case.

In Alaska, 1983, Cindy, a young prostitute narrowly escapes the clutches of a client who attempts to kill her. Seeing similarities between her experience and a number of missing girls, State Trooper Jack Halcombe starts to track the serial killer, but he needs Cindy’s help…

The fact that The Frozen Ground is based on a real case in slightly at odds with the style of the film. The tense finale does seem a bit far-fetched. This is followed by images of the real victims before the end credits. It is unclear what purpose this serves.

As a thriller in its own right, The Frozen Ground has the necessary intrigue, pacing and tension to make it an entertaining watch. The story  revolves around how the authorities catch the serial killer; his identity is never under any doubt.

Scott Walker’s film is sufficiently engaging. The characters are not given much that depth. They really function as vessels for the narrative. Some of their actions appear frustrating; it is unclear how much of the film is based on actual accounts. Likewise, certain elements are heightened; there is no way those involved in the case could have known all the details as depicted in The Frozen Ground.

The cinematography captures the vastness of the Alaskan landscape, even if these shots are brief. In the town scenes, the locales are portrayed with the authentic seediness required. The use of score is overbearing at certain points, although it does add tension in other moments.

John Cusack offers a very convincing performance as Robert Hansen. Nicolas Cage is fine in a role that does not require too much range. Vanessa Hudgens is also decent.

The Frozen Ground is recommended for fans of crime thrillers as it does hold the attention. Nevertheless, its ‘based on true events’ credentials perhaps did not need to be played up in the way it has been.

Trailer Round-Up

Plenty of new trailers this week, including The Call, The Frozen Ground,and Only God Forgives…

The Call

Halle Berry plays an emergency call operator in The Call. Also starring Abigail Breslin, film looks like a fast-paced thriller, from the trailer at least. It at least serves as a warning to always keep your phone adequately charged. The Call is out in UK cinemas on 20th September 2013.

The Frozen Ground

Watching this trailer, it’s hard to believe that John Cusack is the same guy who was in Say Anything. The Frozen Ground is based on the true story of the hunt for a serial killer in Alaska. Also starring Nicolas Cage and Vanessa Hudgens, The Frozen Ground hits the big screen on 19th July 2013.

Only God Forgives

Here is the latest trailer for Only God Forgives. Kristin Scott Thomas is barely recognisable. And Nicolas Winding Refn really does seem to like neon. Starring Ryan Gosing, Only God Forgives is out in UK cinemas on 2nd August 2013.

Pacific Rim

Monsters! Robots! Action writ large! Pacific Rim (I can’t with this name) is Guillermo del Toro’s future-set action blockbuster. If gigantic monsters started popping out of the ocean, I think I would just hide under the bed. But perhaps this would not make for a very exciting film. Pacific Rim hits the big screen on 12th July 2013.

Runner Runner

Justin Timberlake plays a college student who pays for his tuition through online gambling in Runner Runner. In fairness, he could be a mature student. The film also stars Gemma Arterton and Ben Affleck,  in his second role since his Argo success. Runner Runner is out on 27th September 2013.

Hawking

Hawking is a new documentary on the life of the most famous living scientist in the world, Stephen Hawking. His fame seems to concentrate on his work as a physicist and his disability, so perhaps this film is an opportune chance to discover more about the renowned scientist. Hawking is released on 20th September 2013.

Film Review: The Raven

James McTiegue’s film does not live up to its fantastic premise. The Raven is not a terrible movie, but merely a disappointing one.

In 1849, writer Edgar Allan Poe is drinking frequently and poor, on account of not having had any work published for a while. When some grisly murders are committed, police detective Emmett Fields realises that the crimes have been based on the works of Poe. Fields enlists the writer to help with his investigation…

The Raven proposes such a great idea for a film, one that really plays into Poe’s talent for the macabre. All the right elements are there; murder mystery, the works of Poe and the always watchable John Cusack. Nevertheless, some lacklustre writing and direction lets the film down.

The screenplay does not make the most of Poe’s work, despite a strong start. The writer’s stories seem to get lost in the overarching rescue mission, which is less convincing. It is a shame that the film took this route, as The Raven would have been far more interesting if it maintained the more straightforward train of Poe being drafted in to help catch a killer emulating his stories. Changes made to Poe’s history are fine, given that this is a work of pure fiction. However, as a fictional character, Poe changes too dramatically over the course of the duration. The ending, with the reveal of the culprit and Poe’s handling of this, is just diabolical.

McTiegue’s direction fails to deliver. The tone is wrong, with the film starting off a bit campy, but then trying to get serious. The romantic aspect of the narrative also lets the film down. More emphasis should have been placed on wits and intrigue. The final third is action-heavy, again taking the idea too far away from what originally was presented. The Raven fails to deliver tension when it is really needed. Notwithstanding, the pendulum sequence is well executed. Remarks about critics, however, are unlikely to have gone down too well with film critics, as they seem to be quite an overt dig.

Performances in The Raven are patchy. Cusack does a decent job as Poe, although he is more effective when hamming up the character in the earlier scenes. Alice Eve is less convincing, as is Luke Evans later on in the film. Special effects are good, but the overall art direction of sets seem inauthentic. Greater use of lighting would have worked better, especially given the macabre themes of the film.

The Raven does entertain, but is simply not as satisfying as it should have been. If the film directs viewers back to the works of Poe, then at least is serves a good purpose.

2012’s Most Anticipated

As 2012 arrives imminently, I thought I would share some of my cinematic picks for next year. Below are the films I am most looking forward to seeing next year. These do not include films that I have already seen that are due for general release in the next few months, such as Shame or Martha Marcy May Marlene.

1. The Muppets

Although The Muppets was released in America months ago, it is not due for UK release until February. It seems that we have reverted back to the 1980s in that the UK is getting such a big movie as this months after the US. I love the Muppets, so cannot wait for the film. I have tried not to read too much about it, but all that I am hearing so far is positive. The Muppets is released on 10th February 2012.

2. The Raven

From the trailer, this film seems to have everything; macabre murder mystery, Edgar Allan Poe and John Cusack. I love Poe’s work and the premise of The Raven sounds great; Poe pursues a serial killer who bases his crimes on the author’s work. Hopefully the execution will do the idea justice. The Raven is released on 9th March 2012.

3. Prometheus

Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated new addition to the Alien franchise, the teaser trailer for Prometheus has recently been released. It does not give too much away, but it looks very interesting. Hopefully with Scott at the helm, Prometheus will return to Alien‘s combination of science fiction and horror. With a cast which boasts Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace, Prometheus is very exciting on paper. The film is released on 1st June 2012.

4. The Dark Knight Rises

The grandaddy of them all, the conclusion of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy will be one of the biggest movies of the summer. I recently watched the prologue, which was impressive on the Imax screen. Like others, I was concerned that I couldn’t understand Bane properly. The trailer looks magnificent, so as long as Bane’s voice becomes clearer, the film should be a fitting end to a fantastic franchise. The Dark Knight Rises is released 20th July 2012.

5. Frankenweenie

Another remake from Tim Burton, but at least this time he is remaking his own work. Frankenweenie was a live action short from the director’s time at Disney. Stills from the film were recently released; Burton aficionados are likely to find them reminiscent of Vincent, a short directed by the filmmaker around the same time as Frankenweenie. The stop-motion remake tells the story of a boy who tries to bring his dog back to life, a homage to Shelley’s Frankenstein. Frankenweenie is released 5th October 2012.

6. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings was a triumphant film series, and fans of the books were no doubt pleased when it was announced that the director would return for The Hobbit. On a personal level, I am excited for the film because I love Gollum. The trailer shows the return of familiar faces; hopefully the film will be of the same quality as the earlier series. The Hobbit is released 14th December 2012.

The Raven Trailer

I want to see this movie! It looks like it has everything; macabre murder mystery, the works of Edgar Allan Poe and John Cusack. So what if I was introduced to the author by that Halloween episode of The Simpsons? Poe is one of the few authors I have really enjoyed reading (not including picture books). The film takes an interesting angle; a murderer who is inspired by the author’s tales. The Raven is released on 9th March 2012.

Film Review: Hot Tub Time Machine

Perhaps the biggest achievement of Hot Tub Time Machine is that it cements Back to the Future as the quintessential time-travel movie. That’s not to say it is a bad film, merely that the influence of Robert Zemeckis’ 1985 classic is abundantly clear.

Oh, the 1980s. Such a wonderful decade. Adam (played by John Cusack) and friends inadvertently time-travel back to 1986, seemingly a year that fundamentally altered the course of their lives. The film follows the gang as they attempt to return to the present day without causing too much upset in as they run into old flames, friends, and enemies…

Hot Tub Time Machine is a very enjoyable film; the trailer does not illustrate some of the funnier moments in the film. The humour is a mix of parody, knowing references, and the gross-out comedy of films such as Animal House or American Pie.

Director Steve Pink does a good job of balancing this humour with more poignant moments that progress the film’s narrative. The allusions to other films are unmistakable, and Hot Tub Time Machine does the right thing in overtly mentioning some of them. The references stretch as far as casting, with Chevy Chase making an appearance, as well Crispin Glover, who appears in both the present and the past, in another nod to Back to the Future.

With an intertextual film that pays homage to the 80s such as this, it is surprising there is no covert reference to the fact that its leading man became a star in this very decade. Nonetheless, Hot Tub Time Machine works well to produce a feeling of nostalgia for those who remember the decade, and to offer a kitsch depiction to younger audience members well versed in 80s-retro  culture. Special kudos for the soundtrack too, which features an array of both well-known and cult 1980s tunes.

Sure, Hot Tub Time Machine is a corny film. The plot is predictable and the dialogue sometimes crass. But it is also extremely entertaining; surely the sole aim for a flick such as this.