As admirable as he is deluded, Rod Kimble lives out his days performing stunts in the hopes of becoming a legitimate stuntman, just like his deceased father. Of course, the only problem is that his stunts aren’t quite “dangerous” nor is he particularly skilled at what he does. However, all of this changes when Rod finds out that his step-father is gravely ill. He promptly sets out to raise money for an operation that will save the man, but he does this not out of love, but because he feels the need to kick his step-father’s ass and earn his respect.
These days its nearly impossible to navigate your respective social circles without hearing about The Lonely Island comedy troupe — Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer. The trio of comedians/musicians have taken SNL and subsequently the world by storm via their hilarious “digital shorts” — namely “Dick in a Box”, “Jizz in My Pants” and “I’m on a Boat” — and rightly so. The videos are expertly produced, directed and shot, and the songs themselves are insanely funny, and all-together catchy. However, despite their recent popularity boom, it seems as though their feature film debut, Hot Rod, is still relatively unknown, or well received.
In truth, I hadn’t seen the film until it came to me for review, and I did have some reservations about it. As i recall, I steered clear of the film in theaters because the marketing campaign pushed the Napoleon Dynamite angle a bit too much, and because I detest that film I mistakenly avoided it. Now, two years later, I can safely say that I made a grave error in having waited so long to see it. Bear in mind, it’s not that the film is incredibly funny or particularly well-crafted. No, for me it represents a return to comedic form that’s been lost for years. The form I’m referring to is the classic “stupid comedy” that Adam Sandler championed in the mid-to-late nineties. In the wake of comedic gems like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore, it’s been years since someone has successfully revisited the formula, until now. Where other films have tried and failed, Hot Rod reigns supreme, bringing to the comedic forefront the perfect blend of ridiculousness and comedic performance/timing that makes it a worthy heir to the “Happy Madison” fare of yesteryear.
If you’re like me and you consider yourself a big fan of Sandler’s old films, be sure and give this film a chance. With the talented Lonely Island trio at the helm, the lovely Isla Fisher serving up ample eye candy, and the unstoppable Danny McBride doling out comedic brilliance, how can you go wrong?
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