SquidFlicks

Tag: guest review

  • Hot Tub Time Machine

    Hot-Tub-Time-Machine-poster

    A big thanks to Shaun Rowe for the guest review!

    I found Hot tub time machine to be a pleasant surprise when I watched it for the first time, a film that doesn’t only consist of a few laughs here and their but a one that has a deeper meaning within all the gags and one liners.

    The 4 main characters being Insurance salesman Adam (John Cusack). A once budding musician Nick (Craig Robinson). Violator of the group Lou (Rob Corddy) and finally, Adam’s nephew Jacob (Clark Duke). After drifting apart and their life’s not turning out how they expected the gang are reunited after Motley Crue fanatic Lou ends up in hospital after attempting suicide; although Lou denies this Adam and Nick decide it would be a good idea to go back to the 3’s old getaway ‘Kodiak Valley Ski Resort.’ On Arrival the group soon realizes that things have changed at K-Val for the worst. After checking in the gang make another discovery in the form of their deserted party going nature or ”momentum” as they put it, when all hope seems to be lost they decide to get into the Hot Tub. Copious amounts of alcohol later, they wake up in what seems to be the dreaded ‘morning after’ feeling – as they slowly progress through the day the gang soon realize they are back in 1986!
    With the whole gang too scared to put a foot out line in fear of affecting their future lives – the biggest being the possibility of Jacob not being born – will they remain grounded or will they try to change the past in order to improve the future and their so far lackluster lives?

    On a whole I found Hot Tub Time Machine to be very enjoyable, although not the funniest film you’ll ever see it has enough to keep you more than satisfied. With cameo appearances  form 80’s legends Chevy Chase, Crispin Glover and William Zakba it most certainly delivers on nostalgia. As I mentioned above the deeper meaning is one in which we all can relate to. Whatever choices we make in life whether they be good or bad it will ultimately affect us as we get older; difference being will be able to go back in time and rectify our mistakes.

    Final Verdict:
    8.5/10
    (4.25/5)

    Main Cast:
    John Cusack as Adam Yates
    Craig Robinson as Nick Webber
    Rob Corddy as Lou Dorchen
    Clark Duke as Jacob Yates
    Collette Wolfe as Kelly Yates
    Lizzy Calpan as April Drennan
    Sebastian Stan as Blaine
    Crispin Glover as Phil Wedmaier
    William Zakba as Rick Steelman
    Chevy Chase as Father Time/Hot Tub Repair Man
    Kellee Stewart as Courtney Agnew-Webber

    Budget $36 Million
    Box Office $61 Million

    Directed by Steve Pink
    Story by Josh Heald

  • The Dark Knight Rises – Fading to Gray?

    The third film falls short in this reviewer’s opinion.

    A big thanks to Emil for this review!

    What it lacks in storytelling, it attempts to cover with massive explosions and crashes and even more garish Han Zimmer scores. Nolan has a penchant for these. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) plot seems strikingly similar to Batman Begins (2005) although far more muddled and the delivery far too long and tedious throughout. The characters are vastly less well developed; in particular, Bane’s ‘badness’ – played by Tom Hardy – pales in comparison to those prior more sinister evildoers in the earlier Nolan films. Christian Bale, who returns as the Dark Knight, lacks the direct emotional cords that tied him – and us – to both Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008): no stakes for the courageous man, only obstacles for the dispassionate superhero. Obvious omissions in the story are commonplace – laughable in parts – for example, at one point Gotham Police are trapped for months in the city’s sewer system, yet when freed look as if they are leaving for work on a routine morning: bathed, shaved, and dressed as immaculately (hats included) as when they were trapped months earlier! Add numerous similar omissions, a lack of dark stealthiness the prior two films epitomized – which incidentally, is glaringly absent, and the unforgivably commercial ending and Nolan has done what his antagonists’ could not. Do Gotham and your fellow moviegoers a favor: wait until you can rent it for a $1, or better yet – wait to catch it free online – else, such dark nights will indeed rise again.

    2 out of 5 

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