Andy Samberg hasn’t made much impact in the UK yet, and the very modest commercial success of “Hot Rod” at the UK box office won’t change that, but he is a confident physical comedian with a growing reputation in the US which is built on his work for “Saturday Night Live”. “Hot Rod” is a good showcase for his talents- he plays a hapless would-be stuntman with a trio of doofus pals, and you pretty much know what you’re going to get from the start. It’s undemanding, good-hearted, a mite predictable but there are some inspired moments, usually involving Samberg undergoing some kind of physical torture. Isla Fisher twinkles perkily in an identikit “long-term crush” role.
The plot behind this film is promising but the execution is terrible. The truth is that Hot Rod isn't that funny, in fact it's at best mildly amusing in a couple of places and even the usually good Danny McBride and Ian McShane couldn't save this turkey. Andy Samberg in the lead role was way out of his depth, the guy's not funny, cant act and should stick to 5 minute sketches on Saturday Night Live.
So many friends have asked me over the years 'have you seen Hot Rod? It's soooo hilarious!' My friends are sometimes right, sometimes they are wrong. They were kinda right this time, it was hilarious but for other people. It had it's moments but mostly I wasn't moved. I did like the co-c-c-cool beans and some of the more surreal aspects of it though, like the kickboxing sandwiches.
To OTT for me, like torrtally dood. Funky Fresh.