Hot Rod

Director: Akiva Schaffer
Starring: Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Isla Fisher, Bill Hader, Ian McShane, Sissy Spacek, Danny R. McBride, Will Arnett, Chris Parnell
Running Time: 88 minutes
Rating: PG-13

***1/2 (out of ****)

When I saw Hot Rod there were four people in the theater, including me. By the end of the movie there were only two and both of us had been on the floor laughing the entire time. I walked out thinking to myself that someone should send a copy of this film to Adam Sandler as a reminder of the kind of movies he used to make. That's not a knock on Sandler who's too old to be playing the role Andy Samberg does here and I'm glad he's stretched as an actor and made more interesting choices. But who are we kidding? Sandler was always at his most entertaining and found most of his success in stupid 90's slapstick comedies like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore. Those were the movies that really connected with audiences and afforded him the opportunity to branch out and try different things, all of which didn't result in nearly the same kind of commercial success.

While no one wants to admit it, there's a reason why those comedies are still remembered and referenced today: because they're bad. That's right, bad. And when I say bad I mean they're so bad they're great. They fully commit to their ridiculous premise and make no apologies for what they are. They're stupid, hilarious and most important of all, they're in on the joke. Nearly every comedy since Sandler's heyday have attempted to repeat that formula and failed miserably, struggling most with that last criteria. There seems to be a disturbing trend going on lately with comedies actually taking themselves seriously, even going as far as to spread their running time over two hours and giving us plots that are actually (gasp!) somewhat complex. I'm actually glad that's happened to a certain extent, and there are some filmmakers out there doing it well, but I can't believe I'm saying this: I miss the stupidity. It's been long enough. We're due. As the quality of comedies have improved in recent years, Hollywood's forgotten about giving us a brainless good time.

How ironic that even a film produced by Sandler himself (last year's Grandma's Boy) couldn't recapture that magic and contained only minimal laughs? Now, with relatively little fanfare, comes Hot Rod, from director Akiva Schaffer and stars Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone, known collectively as the "Lonely Island" comedy group. They met and became best friends at middle school in Berkeley and went on to achieve a cult following through their digital shorts online. This led to Saturday Night Live where they were responsible for two of the funniest sketches in that show's recent history with "Lazy Sunday" and "Dick In A Box."

This movie is much of that same humor, stretched out longer, but just as hilarious. That it's produced by SNL creator Lorne Michaels would usually guarantee failure, but this deserves to be ranked among the best films starring SNL cast members. Or at least it's definitely closer in quality to Wayne's World than Superstar or It's Pat: The Movie. That the script comes from Pam Brady, one of the writers on South Park, won't come as a surprise after you've seen it. After the final credits rolled I felt like running to the roof of the multiplex and screaming "FINALLY!" Finally, a movie that "gets it," basking in its own stupidity and fully committing all the way through. Why did they stop making comedies like this?

Samberg is Rod Kimble, an incompetent aspiring stuntman with a little bit of a problem. His stepfather, Frank (Ian McShane of tv's Deadwod) is dying of heart failure and Rod needs to somehow earn $50,000 for his transplant so he lives to be on the receiving end of an ass kicking. Yeah, you read that right. You see Frank is a cranky old man who routinely defeats his stepson in fights and has absolutely no respect for him. Rod cannot let him die without first earning that respect, a joke that pays off big later. Inspired by stories of his deceased biological father's history as a professional stuntman, Rod formulates a stunt of his own that involves jumping 15 buses.

He gathers a training crew that includes his dweebish brother Kevin (Jorma Taccone) and slacker friends Rico (Danny R. McBride) and Dave (Bill Hader). What's so funny about these characters is it's never quite clear what they do all day or even how old they are. It's seems the movie wants us to believe they're teenagers even though they look like they're pushing thirty or beyond. However, at other points part of me thinks they're actually supposed to be in their twenties. I'm not sure. Whatever the case may be I know it wouldn't have been nearly as funny if they had cast real teenagers in the roles. Also along for the ride is hot neighbor Denise (Isla Fisher) who Rod is trying (in hilariously pathetic ways) to win over, but of course she's going out with a total jerk (played by Will Arnett).

It's no mystery where this movie is going (although the ending is somewhat surprising), but the real fun is how it gets there. Sure, there are your obligatory training sequences and pratfalls but the difference here is they are actually inventive and consistently funny, with even more goofiness sandwiched in between. This is one of those movies that are knowingly winking at the audience the entire time with hallucinatory dream sequences, completely random jokes that could exist independent of the picture, bizarre cameos and inspired 80's musical montages that come out of nowhere. A particularly memorable one features possibly the only Europe song ever used in a movie that wasn't "The Final Countdown."

Schaffer has also uncovered a little trick not many directors are aware of. If you repeat a line or a visual joke for just the right amount of time it can be hilarious as long as you know when to stop. There's a fall down a mountain that starts off typically, but then it keeps going….and going. It extends just to the point where it becomes downright hilarious, then stops just in time. Many directors wouldn't have a clue when to yell "Cut!" and it would have crossed that line into annoyance. Not here. He even knows when to stop the movie, something most directors of comedies seem to have forgotten lately. It runs 88 minutes and it feels just right for the type of movie he's making and the story he's telling. It doesn't overstay its welcome. The film is also very cleverly directed visually, despite its low budget. When Rod performs a stunt late in the film we see him in the air giving the thumbs up to the crowd, then the camera pulls back to reveal…he isn't on the bike! Sorry, but that's pretty hilarious.

This movie contains more laughs than just about any comedy I've seen so far this year (yes, that includes Hot Fuzz) and there wasn't a second I can remember not laughing. It also puts the skills of nearly every performer to good use. McShane is hilarious as the step-dad from hell who's just begging for comeuppance while Sissy Spacek plays the mom completely straight, making Samberg's character look that much goofier, if that's even possible. We know exactly what Isla Fisher's role will be like as Denise: Smile and look pretty. It's true, but at least they picked an actress who is pretty and has a nice smile. She does what she's supposed to. No complaints here. Chris Parnell has a small role late in the film as an A.M. radio D.J. and has a gag involving the explanation of a tattoo that in under thirty seconds is funnier than anything he's ever done on Saturday Night Live. Listen to his color commentary during the big stunt.

If the movie has one problem it's the underutilization of Will Arnett in the role of the evil boyfriend (although he does have one great scene). Having the comedic talents of Arnett at your disposal in a film and not fully exploiting them is inexcusable and I had to shave half a star off for it. In way though, even that could be seen as a plus because the movie never takes the familiar route of this story coming down to a battle for the girl. Still, Arnett should have had more screen time because a killer supporting turn from him could have taken this movie over the top. Maybe he'll have more scenes on the unrated DVD, which could be out in stores by the time you've read this judging from the film's box office take.

For some reason this movie has drawn comparisons to Napoleon Dynamite and I have no idea why, aside from the fact they share a little of the same type of humor. While I liked Napoleon Dynamite, I do understand why some people despise it, and even those who love it have to admit it hasn't aged too well. That film, while sporadically hilarious, was full of itself and carried a false air of superiority and arrogance embodied by the behavior of the title character. That's not the case with Hot Rod. The title character may be goofy and delusional, but he isn't mean-spirited or arrogant and this movie never adapts a condescending attitude toward his behavior or the material. It's just out to have fun and it succeeds.

Originally this was supposed to be a starring vehicle for Will Ferrell, but I'm so glad it wasn't. Ferrell sometimes falls into the trap of trying too hard to get laughs, which wouldn't work here like it did in Anchorman and Talladega Nights. Samberg is perfect for this and it's a shame the movie hasn't done well because he has what it takes to translate his SNL success to the big screen and become a major comedy star, much like Ferrell and Sandler before him.

One of the things I love most is when I have the opportunity to review a movie that just sneaks up on me. I don't go in expecting much, and I come out with something so much better than I anticipated. That this brought in just over $5 million on its opening weekend and was massacred by just about every critic in the country says something. It wasn't meant for all audiences, which is how it should be. The best comedies aren't. I also don't think it's a coincidence that the two people who walked out of the theater I saw this in were a guy and his girlfriend, with her leading the charge. This is a guy's movie and some guys may not even care for this kind of humor. Let's put it this way: If you've never pondered such life altering questions as who would win a fight between a taco and a grilled cheese sandwich this movie probably isn't for you.

Just wait until this arrives on DVD and everyone suddenly discovers it. This is the kind of cult comedy that could end up playing in stoned-out students dorm rooms for the next 10 years. It deserves to go down as one of the funniest movies of 2007 and the prospect that Superbad, which opens very soon, could possibly be even funnier (and advanced word suggests it is) is frightening. I just read an interview with Andy Samberg where he said the goal he had in making Hot Rod was to recreate the comedies he and his friends grew up on, like Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison. As someone who grew up those also, I can honestly say that mission was accomplished. Mr. Sandler would be proud.