HOT ROD
RYAN: A huge step for the career of SNL’s Andy Samberg, his first feature film “Hot Rod” is equal parts funny and lame.
CAROLINE: It’s sort of like a poor man’s Judd Apatow film.
RYAN: A very poor man. This is no “Knocked Up.”
CAROLINE: The movie strives to be hilarious and it does have its moments; but most of them are merely amusing, and some are downright unfunny.
RYAN: The funniest moments were done in the editing and stunts, and the rest were just slapsticky and predictable. The whole movie is predictable.
CAROLINE: Well, I don’t think they were trying to reinvent the wheel with this film. It’s part ‘80s teen comedy, part pseudo-action movie. You can definitely wait till it’s on DVD – no need to see it in the theater.
RYAN: Andy Samberg did a good job. I like him. It’s also interesting to note that Will Ferrell executive produced this movie.
CAROLINE: It’s got the whole SNL family behind it. But it’s also got a ton of people in it that you wouldn’t expect like Sissy Spacek and Ian McShane playing Andy’s parents. And we love Isla Fisher, the soon-to-be Mrs. Sacha Baron Cohen, who plays Andy’s neighbor, crush and crew member.
RYAN: She plays an American, but her native accent breaks out once in a while.
CAROLINE: Yes, she likes to say “bean” instead of “been.” But I liked her in this movie. And ever since reading a cute profile of Andy Samberg in New York Magazine, and of course loving his SNL digital shorts, I’ve had a fondness for him and was really hoping to like this movie. But I don’t know that “Hot Rod” is a movie that really needed to be made.
RYAN: You speak the true.
CAROLINE: Andy is very endearing, but this is by far not his funniest work.
RYAN: “Dick in a Box” was definitely funnier.
CAROLINE: And shorter.
RYAN: He has a dance scene in “Hot Rod” that is supposed to be hilarious but is kind of stupid. I was actually feeling like the movie went on too long, and then I looked at my watch when it ended and realized it was only 90 minutes. For a movie to feel long at 90 minutes is a bad sign.
CAROLINE: Bottom line?
RYAN: It’s dumb humor. If you liked “Dumb and Dumber,” then this is right up your alley. I’m sure kids will like it.
CAROLINE: It’s definitely got “teenage boy” written all over it. Don’t get me wrong, there are funny parts and I definitely laughed a few times; but it’s not funny enough to compete with summer comedies like “Knocked Up” and the soon-to-be-released “Superbad.” The Andy Samberg writing and directing team has a long way to go before they’re at that level.
RYAN: Stick to the digital shorts for now, boys.