Hot Rod:smack destiny in the face (Hot Rod (DVD))

Member Name: ajbluestar

Product:	Hot Rod (DVD)
Date:	20/07/09 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: some very funny moments, light entertainment

Disadvantages: a bit silly at times and over the top

Hot Rod is a quite outrageous and off beat comedy. It is a bit over the top at times and quite silly but if you enjoy this type of humour like me , I think you will enjoy it. It is quite similar to the film Napoleon Dynamite and if you liked that film and its slightly retro style you will probably enjoy this film. It is also produced by american comedian and actor Will Ferrell.

The film stars Andy Samberg as Rod Kimble who is a slacker living in a small US town with his mum, younger brother, and his stepfather whose respect he craves. He also misses his dead dad, who he thinks was former American motorcycle daredevil and entertainer Evel Knievel's back-up. Rod, believes that he is a stunt man. He has fake moustache and also a dream to earn the respect of his step father, family and friends.

When his stepfather needs an operation due to illness, Rod plans to set a school bus jumping record on his moped to raise the money for his operation.He gets help from his brother and his slacker pals. Rod and his crew have to raise the money to rent the buses and build the ramp. One problem is that Rod is not very good at his chosen career-he has never landed a jump without wiping out. He is doomed to failure and the situation is complicated by the return of Denise (Isla Fisher), Rod's next-door neighbor that is his love interest, who is home from college.

The film has some very funny moments and quite slapstick and silly comedy which people will either love or hate. I tended to go towards liking it and seeing it as a bit of harmless light entertainment. If you like seeing people make a bit of a fool of themselves, falling over and getting hurt sometimes and enjoy programmes like Jackass this is great. It has some kind of plot but it is not very complicated and probably quite predictable by the end but I found it enjoyable light hearted fun anyway. I would give it 3.5/5 if I could but will just round off to 4! I got this movie for less than £3 from play.com which was pretty good.

Film Details:

Produced by John Goldwyn
Lorne Michaels
Will Ferrell

Written by Pam Brady
Uncredited:
Akiva Schaffer
Andy Samberg
Jorma Taccone

Starring Andy Samberg
Isla Fisher
Ian McShane
Sissy Spacek
Danny R. McBride
Jorma Taccone
Bill Hader

Cinematography Andrew Dunn

Editing by Malcolm Campbell

Distributed by Paramount Pictures

Release date(s) Sep 2007

Running time 88 mins

Summary: a good comedy but not great