Laugh? Try not to wet yourself! (Hot Rod (DVD))

Member Name: david_1967

Product:	Hot Rod (DVD)
Date:	11/03/08 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hilariously stupid with nothing to cover the kids eyes for.

Disadvantages: It's only 88 minutes long

I've just been to see my brother who's just got back in the country the other day having been out to Dubai on business. We said the usual 'hellos' and what-not but then he asks me if I've seen a film called 'Hot Rod'. Apparently he watched it on the plane back to the UK, thought it was fantastic and asked if I wanted to watch it now. You've got to bear in mind that by watching the film we would have missed the football on TV so the film must have been a cut above the rest!

It was. The story is the usual american mr. nobody comes good formula but where this differs is that whenever it appears that it is going to get disgustingly saccharin it side-swipes you and makes you laugh your pants off. When you realise that it was written by Pam Brady (who? I hear you cry) it is understandable why the sickly-sweet niceness that can often marr what could be a decent movie has been shed completely. Pam Brady has written/starred and produced many episodes of South Park as well as the hilarious Team America: World Police which goes a long way to telling you the kind of thing you can expect. But don't expect loads of swearing and sex gags - this is pure family entertainment and, providing you don't mind hearing a couple of bad words, the kids would probably love it just as much as the parents.

Rod Kimble (Andy Samberg - Saturday Night Live) plays a young man who, in order to raise the money for his step-dads (Ian McShane - Lovejoy - don't let it put you off) heart transplant, plans to jump 15 school buses on his trusty moped. However, in the very first scene of the film you get to discover that, as a stunt man, Rod Kimble is cr*p! In one scene, trying to get some of the money together by hiring himself out to special events, he is shown on fire, scaring the kids to death during someones 6th birthday party, his friends rushing 'round him with fire extinguishers. In another, whilst in training for the big stunt and trying to 'toughen-up' he wraps himself in cushions and bubble-wrap and has his friends drive at him in a van. He dreams of following in his dead dads footsteps and becoming a mighty daredevil. What follows is an hilarious 88 minutes of total stupidity backed up by an 80's rock soundtrack from the likes of Europe and The Cutting Crew.

A film of this type can often begin well then, as the story progresses, and/or a love interest takes hold, the laughs take second place to the continuation of the plot. Not here. At one point I had to put my cuppa on the floor for fear of emptying it across our kids sofa I was laughing so hard.

Will Ferrell produced the movie and it is very evident. The main character could have been played by Will if he had been a lot younger. The film was never released in this country and went straight to DVD which is probably why it passed me by but I am going to order it off the 'net after I finish this review.

The extras on the DVD are the usual bunch - commentaries by director and actors, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, deleted scenes and outtakes. It does have 5.1 surround sound but, as my brother don't, I can't say whether it is any cop or not.

The DVD is currently on sale on Amazon for £10.98 new and is classified as 12. This rating is a bit harsh but probably came about because the f-word makes an appearance at one point.

If you like your humour on the side of idiotic then you can do your body no greater favour than treating it to this 88 minutes of pure enjoyment. I'm laughing just remembering the thing!

Also posted on Ciao.

Summary: Brilliant fun for all the family