Hot Times with ‘Tub’ Travelers

“You have to be subtle with the comedy in movies,” says Craig Robinson, who plays warehouse manager Darryl on NBC’s “The Office” and has starred in films such as “Knocked Up.” This sentiment is somewhat surprising, however, given the over-the-top nature of his upcoming film, “Hot Tub Time Machine.”

Slated for release on March 26, “Hot Tub Time Machine” promises to give audiences a unique comedy experience. As the movie’s title implies, the plot concerns a hot tub which possesses the unique ability to transport its users through time and space. The movie begins when four friends—three middle aged men, Adam, Lou, and Nick, (John Cusack, Rob Corddry, and Robinson respectively) and their younger, introverted, and videogame addicted friend, Jacob, (Clark Duke)travel to the ski lodge of their childhoods in order to escape from the grind of their adult lives. The trip is initially a disappointment; however, after a night of heavy drinking in a hot tub, the four awake to find themselves transported through time to the year 1986. The group is then presented with the exceptional opportunity to remake their lives with the knowledge of their future still present in their minds.

The outlandish plot offers the characters the chance to confront unique and hilarious situations as they try to “kick some past,” as the film’s tagline states. The cast acknowledges, for example, that little heed is paid to the theoretical laws of time travel in the movie. When asked about how the hot tub is able to travel through time, Duke, of “Greek” and “Superbad” fame, says, “There is little to no explanation.”

The 1986 world in which the four men have landed is also a bit of a shock, though younger audiences will not have trouble keeping up. Duke says that the film “is not like a Ken Burns documentary about the eighties. You’ll be able to keep up, I promise.” Robinson, in turn, believes that audiences will love the feel of the movie as they will, “get to take a trip back,” and “see the ridiculousness of the hairstyles and fashions.”

Some critics, however, have speculated that the movie’s plot and premise are thoughtless and juvenile, while others claim that the movie will attempt to ride on the coattails of other successful crude comedies such as “The Hangover.” But though the movie’s comedy may not be overly refined, Robinson assures that “people will be surprised by how clever [the movie] is. There’s a lot of good in there.”

Calling the movie a knockoff of “The Hangover” may also be a bit unfair. Though both movies recount the tales of four men who take a trip to get away from their average lives, Robinson claims that “the only similarity [between the two] is that there are four guys.”

As with all things, it is impossible to please everyone. Some moviegoers may be put off by the film’s lewd or juvenile approach to humor while others will see the movie for that very reason. But regardless of whether or not the film proves to be a critical or commercial success, Duke believes that “there are a lot of people that are looking forward to this movie,” and says that, for the most part, “people are going to enjoy the ride.”