HOT ROD Movie Review
HOT ROD - movie review by efrain gomez - August 1, 2007
So this Friday, we have a choice of three new films opening in theatres across the country, and I’m guessing many will see the second sequel in Matt Damon’s “Bourne” movies. But since I have no idea what the heck went on in the first two “Bourne” movies, I chose to skip the press screening.
And since I swore I’d never see another movie with Jennifer “I refuse to call her J-Lo” Lopez until she renounced her evil, admitted she can’t sing or act, and converted back to being Latina, I passed on “El Cantante”. Now that I think about it, this movie may redeem her because she plays a real-life Latina, the wife of ’70s salsa singer Hector Lavoe, played by real-life husband, Marc Anthony, the star of “El Cantante”. Plus, I actually think Marc Anthony is a decent actor, and he’s Puerto Rican just like the singer, and I love Latino music… Dang, maybe I should have seen that one. Now I feel like a sell out.
Ahem. I digress.
I chose “Hot Rod” starring Andy Samberg (of “SNL” fame and former UC Santa Cruz student), and it was definitely worth it. Stupid-funny and laced with obscure pop culture references, parody and punch-dancing scenes, “Hot Rod” is awesome.
Rod (Samberg) is a wannabe stuntman whose stepfather, Frank (Ian McShane), won’t give him respect as a man and hates on his stunts. When Frank gets deathly sick, Rod decides to raise the money to save him by jumping fifteen school buses on a motorcycle – simply so he can give Frank a beatdown and earn his respect.
UCSC graduate and friend of Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, makes a noteworthy directorial debut with “Hot Rod”. The movie has a hand-held camera, documentary style which enhances the awkward brand of comedy in the film. This is Samberg’s natural environment with hilarious moments of immature, college-boy comedy that might steer him to Will Ferrell status. The movie’s funny awkwardness is like another retro-dweeb comedy, “Napoleon Dynamite”.
Add a dose of Saturday Night Live sprinkled with 1980’s cheese, “Hot Rod” will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter. Wait, that’s not true. I mean, who does that? Rolling in the aisles of a movie theatre? Not only is that complete hyperbole, it’s just gross – all that cinemuck on the floor.
Anyway, just see this movie.
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Rating: 3 out of 4 stars
I FUNKING LOOOVE HOTROD
..a lot.
it’s THE SHIT.
It was funny… the movie SUCKED but it was still effing funny