Before walking into the theater to see Hot Rod, I had fairly low expectations. In my mind, the story, about a struggling stunt man (played by Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg), could have easily gone two ways. One, it could have been a Will Ferrell-esque mixture of over-the-top gags and sexual humor mixed with random exclamations (“By the chest hair of Bilbo Baggins!”). Two, it could have been a simple retread of quirky sports comedies (Dodgeball, the upcoming Balls of Fury) in which an affable underdog defeats the bad guys with the help of his quirky friends and a couple of well-placed training montages. And while Hot Rod definitely contains these elements (and a dance tribute to Flashdance!), it somehow remains wonderfully fresh and surprisingly funny.
The film revolves around Samberg’s Rod Kimble, who, in an attempt to raise $50,000 for his dying stepfather, must complete some of the most dangerous stunts known to man. While the plot of the movie might seem generic and clichéd, it’s the characters and comedic set pieces that refuse to be defined.
For instance, while Rod may be attempting to save the life of his stepfather, it’s not out of any sort of love or affection — it’s out of a desire to beat the crap out of him. Rod’s reasoning is that his stepdad won’t respect him unless he can punch him in the face, and he can’t punch him in the face if he’s dead.
These are the type of things at which Hot Rod excels: Setting up a familiar and often clichéd cinematic moment and then flipping it upside-down, to great comedic effect.
And boy is Hot Rod funny. However, it’s not funny in the way that Oscar Wilde is funny; it’s funny in a way that a clown getting hit by a Prius is funny. One sequence in particular (involving a musical number gone awry) had me laughing so hard my sides hurt even though (or maybe because) it defied all logical explanation. And the last thing Hot Rod cares about is being logical.
Like most great comedies, Hot Rod works because of its talented cast. Samberg is fantastic as the half-witted stunt man with a heart of gold (or at least bronze). While I’ve always found the man funny on SNL, there was a part of me that thought he couldn’t handle being the lead in a feature comedy. But he has just the right amount of innocence and comedic presence to carry the film on his shoulders. While he may not be the next Ben Stiller/Jack Black/Steve Carell, he will definitely be an interesting actor to watch over the next few years.
The supporting cast also comes through in shining colors. Bill Hader (another SNL star) has some great moments as Ron’s hillbilly buddy Dave. With a great turn in another fantastic August comedy, Superbad, Hader’s star looks to be on the rise.
Danny McBride and Jorma Taccone also deliver excellent supporting performances as members of Rod’s stunt team. McBride is having a stellar year with his role in The Foot Fist Way, and he’s on the money here with a quirky performance as Rod’s sweet yet violence-prone demolitions expert. Taccone also provides many a laugh as Rod’s nebbish step brother. This is Taccone’s first film role, but his comedic chemistry with Samberg and the rest of the crew is noticeable. Sissy Spacek and Ian McShane help pepper in a touch of class in their small roles as Rod’s parents.
Unfortunately the film doesn’t really utilize the acting talents of the lovely Isla Fisher, who was a phenomenal comedic presence in Wedding Crashers. The only acting she really gets to do is stand around and look cute for the camera (which she succeeds at admirably).
What makes Hot Rod such a fun summer comedy is its utter disregard for upholding the standards of modern comedy. Characters do things for absolutely no rhyme or reason other than to make the audience laugh. And while plot and character development are often sidelined for these moments, the film doesn’t suffer — it becomes even funnier.
Comments
This movie is hilarious.
Andy Samberg: marry me.
The end.