 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Hot Tub Time Machine
- Review Date: March 23, 2010
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Drugs, topless women make this comedy too steamy for teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Hot Tub Time Machine is like a college party weekend, filled to the rim with profanity, sex and sex talk, as well as drugs, alcohol, and a little fighting. Several sex scenes, which include topless women and some bare male bottoms, as well as near constant profanity (from "f--k" to "p----y"), make this a decidedly adult movie. One big joke involves the possibility of a straight man performing a sex act on his straight male friend. Some comedic drug and alcohol scenes, along with the film's focus on men re-evaluating their middle-age lives, also pushes it into mature territory. Older teens might enjoy the movie, but it's definitely intended for adults who remember the 1980s and grew up enjoying these kinds of teen party movies, especially those starring John Cusack (Better Off Dead, The Sure Thing, etc.).
What's the story?
In 2010, three old friends, Adam (John Cusack), Nick (Craig Robinson), and Lou (Rob Corddry), do not have the lives they once wished for. Divorced, depressed, and otherwise unsatisfied, they decide to spend a weekend in an old favorite ski village, accompanied by Adam's nephew Jacob (Clark Duke). Climbing in a hot tub, they are magically transported back to 1986, which was a major turning point in their lives (except for Jacob, who wasn't yet born). There, they each have a choice to walk the same path and not upset the space/time continuum, or to re-do things that felt unfinished, including the decision to dump or not dump an old girlfriend, or stand up to a bully. Are they doomed to repeat their failures, or does the future hold new hope?
Is it any good?
Modeled after the 2009 smash hit The Hangover, HOT TUB TIME MACHINE is raunchier than it needs to be, but it's still very funny and very clever, especially for older viewers who grew up on the many "teen party" movies of the 1980s. Focusing on three old friends who travel back in time from 2010 to a memorable weekend in 1986, the movie goes through the motions of a carefree teen comedy, but with the added weight and perspective of adulthood.
The movie is also a postmodern re-evaluation of the entire genre, complete with music, clothing and other artifacts of the era, but viewed through a modern-day lens. The 1980s are seen as both a simpler time, with more personal connection, but also a more superficial time. These ideas are not explored with as much clarity and depth as they could have been -- some of the characters' problems are too easily solved via the use of the time machine -- but the result is still satisfying and entertaining.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the concepts of change and regret. What do you wish you could change or do over again? Is it ever too late to change your lives? Is it impossible, or just more difficult, as one gets older?
What did you think about the drugs and alcohol in the movie? Is it OK to use these subjects for humor?
What kinds of things keep friends together over many years? What kinds of things cause them to drift apart? Are these a good or bad?
What would life have been like in the 1980s? Does it seem simpler and
more appealing (without Internet or texting), or does it
seem primitive and impossible?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Hilarious and raunchy, but there are better comedies
This is a very funny and original movie for those who can withstand extreme raunchiness, drug use, and foul language. My only problem with it is that it just wasn't as good as other comedies, probably due to the off-timeliness of the story. Bottom Line: For a fun time, I'd recommend this, but there are better comedies, such as The Hangover or Get Him to the Greek. Thanks for reading! - Movie Man
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AGE
I can't believe anyone would let their children watch this under the age of 17! Love John Cusak (which is the only reason I rented it) and it could have been very funny except for gratuitous excesses. Yes, the 80's were filled with cursing and sex but it was overdone. Very disappointed.
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AGE
Hilarious for anyone who lived the 80s, but not for kids
This movie was absolutely hilarious. I laughed out loud over and over again. A sinful pleasure, it's full of kitsch and references to bad 80s movies like Red Dawn... Also full of sex, drugs, partying and obscenities. The plot is awful and there's nothing behind the science, but it's a fun, fun film
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AGE
MUST BE funnier than The Hangover!
THIS MOVIE IS TOO FREAKING HILARIOUS! I ABSOLUTELY REALLY LOVE THIS MOVIE! I have the poster, a t-shirt that came with the poster AND I EVEN HAVE THE DVD! MY FIRST UNRATED DVD! INCLUDES BOTH THEATRICAL AND UNRATED EXTENDED VERSIONS OF THE FILM! I watched the THEATRICAL version twice and the UNRATED EXTENDED version once! Even New York Post AND I say it's funnier than The Hangover! I ABSOLUTELY REALLY LOVE HOT TUB TIME MACHINE!
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AGE
great fun for the family
great fun for the family
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AGE
Terrible Movie
Totally hated this movie, I walked out. I grew up in the 80's and adore John Cusack - but this movie was terrible!
To the people who think this is ok to show to kids ~ what are you thinking?
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AGE
Extremely raunchy, so inappropriate much as the other raunchiest comedy films of all.
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AGE
O.K for 14+
Ok I am 13 and I have seen the rated R of this on DVD, it's not that bad except for F words that are in Transformers, that lots of 13 and 14 year olds have seen before, even though they were horrible movies. There is one scene with a nude woman and a black man in a hot tub having sex, but all it shows is the woman's boobs. The woman is acted by Jessica Pare, arguably the hottest woman in the world. And besides, boobs aren't too bad for teens at least 13, you should be hiding them from movies that show vaginas. Not that I've seen any. The movie has mild violence of a man's arm being chopped off, and men making offensive comments about his missing arm. I felt for him at that part, those guys should have been nicer to him, instead of eagerly waiting for him to lose his arm. Also, the movie has some references to suicide, and a character tries to kill himself, but it does'nt show it happen. Overall, I SAY THIS IS OKAY FOR 13 AND UP
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AGE
Absolutely hideous
This was the most horrendous movie I have ever seen. John Cusak is one of my favorites, but my wife and I had to leave the theater. The few funny parts were vastly outweighed by the constant use of the F word and all the sex and drug use. A total embarrassment for all the actors. For those who have taken their kids to this: what were you thinking...or were you thinking at all?
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| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | Steve Pink |
| Cast: | Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, John Cusack, Rob Corddry |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 99 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 26, 2010 |
| DVD release date: | June 28, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong crude and sexual content, nudity, drug use and pervasive language |
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