comment #1

Ray DeRousse says ...

People are not talking about this movie. I thought it had a fairly bad trailer, and none of the promotional materials shown really play down the dumb premise.

Women are certainly not going to see this thing based on the trailers. Over 25 guys go where their women take them. So you have a pretty small section of the public interested in it - guys under 25 who have no idea what the eighties were actually like.

Nice job.

comment #2

actionman says ...

no chance that this does Hangover-type biz

for whatever reason this movie screams "rental" to me whereas the hangover was something i didn't want to miss in the theater

craig robinson is a very funny guy so that's who I'm most looking forward to seeing in this flick

comment #3

matt cousens says ...

"Get Me To The Greek" has a better chance.

comment #4

MikeSchaeferSF says ...

They're running tons of TV spots on the usual channels (Com Central, Spike) for this sort of thing. Maybe they should've done it in 3-D.

comment #5

Ray DeRousse says ...

I'm also not sure where you're getting the comparison to THE HANGOVER.

THE HANGOVER was a film that could appeal to men and women - everybody's had drunken nights where they blacked out, especially in Vegas. Anybody who's gotten married knows about the jitters, the second-guessing, etc. Women like Bradley Cooper and Justin Bartha, and everybody warms up to Zach Galfinakis.

What does HOT TUB TIME MACHINE offer? An aging John Cusack replaced by a kid? Chevy Chase?? No thanks. This is more SNAKES ON A PLANE than THE HANGOVER.

comment #6

Josh Massey says ...

All I know is they're screening the hell out of it - meaning it's a crowd-pleaser. So while projecting Hangover numbers are silly, it could open with decent numbers and chug along for awhile.

comment #7

Eloi Manning says ...

"What does HOT TUB TIME MACHINE offer? An aging John Cusack replaced by a kid? Chevy Chase?? No thanks. This is more SNAKES ON A PLANE than THE HANGOVER."

It offers jokes that make people laugh. The trailers and TV spots seem popular. How the hell does it resemble Snakes on a Plane?

comment #8

matt cousens says ...

Clark Duke's picture on that poster is faaaar more annoying than the dude in the She's Out of My League poster. I just wanna punch him in the mouth.

comment #9

Ray DeRousse says ...

@ Eloi - It resembles SNAKES ON A PLANE in that it has a stupid premise that people talk about in a mildly derogatory sense. People hear the title of the film and chuckle momentarily - "oh, that's hilarious" they say - but they have no intention of paying money to see it.

comment #10

Eloi Manning says ...

Ray: I'd say they're quite different. Snakes on a Plane was an action film primarily. Hot Tub Time Machine has a stupid premise, but so do most comedies. The time machine part is just a lead-in to some fish-out-of-water, culture clash hijinks. It's closer to an Austin Powers movie than Snakes on a Plane.

I think it'll do fine. It won't make Hangover numbers, but Hangover was the biggest comedy of all time or something, so that's not surprising. I think it'll easily do $80m+ domestic.

comment #11

Jeffrey Wells says ...

An over-the-top ludicrous tone, but ludicrous in "quotes" -- winkingly so, intelligently so. Four guys together having an outrageous and disorienting adventure in which they're behind the eight ball for most of the duration. That's where the Hangover analogy comes from. That's what Jett was saying, in any case.

comment #12

Ray DeRousse says ...

Bah, it's immaterial. Girls aren't going for this movie, I guarantee.

comment #13

Eloi Manning says ...

Jeff: It's Hangover-type casting, too. Cusack the Cooper-type lead/straight man, Robinson and Corddry as Galifianakis and Helms, and the other guy in the quieter, more innocent Bartha role. At least that's how it seems in the trailers.

comment #14

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

Certainly not a TV guy, Jeff. I saw spots for this all weekend.

comment #15

Eloi Manning says ...

Ray: I think you're seriously underestimating the appeal of "funny men doing stupid things" to women. This isn't a niche, dark comedy like Observe & Report. It's fairly broad, and Cusack is a reassuring presence to most 30-something women.

comment #16

Rich S. says ...

It doesn't help that the ubiquitous TV ads (non-redband) are not at all funny. They set up the premise nicely, but then the jokes just kind of lie there.

comment #17

Abbey Normal says ...

The Hangover analogy is fine, but a better comparison might be Old School, another bawdy comedy about a group of guys going "back in time" (mentally, anyway), assessing what their lives are now versus what they used to be, etc.

comment #18

Chase Kahn says ...

This looks terrible - a non-stop riff on 80's (jheri curls, flat-tops, Michael Jackson) and pre-internet jokes - it'll be the entire Wall Street 2 cell phone gag for two hours.

comment #19

matt cousens says ...

Well, yeah Abby. Same Director, same mold. But i think the idea is to focus on comparing The Hangover to NEW movies coming out. Will Ferrell's debate scene was the same as Galifianakis' Rain Man scene. We get this.

comment #20

Josh Massey says ...

I think if these guys get Old School numbers ($80-ish million), they'll be happy. The ceiling is definitely higher, though.

comment #21

Fat Boy says ...

the 80's throwback setting will appeal to the under 25 female crowd. they love that shit -- the ridiculous clothes, the attitude, & especially the music. the 80's are "cool" again. if they don't bite, they'll at least nibble.

that said, movie looks like unfunny garbage. the presence of clark duke, who hasn't done a single humorous thing to warrant his existence yet, betrays this.

comment #22

Mr. F. says ...

@Eloi: in keeping with your HANGOVER comparison... if anything, Robinson is playing the Helms role (a more serious guy who's too dedicated to his wife), and Corddry is Galifianakis (i.e., weird goofball).

comment #23

DeeZee says ...

Wanted to watch it, but the clips are giving me Romy and Michelle[and a Bizarro Wedding Singer without any big names] vibes, when I was expecting something more like Grosse Point Blank or those Brady spoofs.

Josh: It might lose ground to Chloe, even though the latter film is getting a limited release. OTOH, it's perfect counter-programming for 'Dragon.

matt: I'm really surprised he's still getting work after Sex Drive bombed.

comment #24

hunterd says ...

I saw this movie at a free preview screening at my college, and lemme tell ya', it's no Hangover.

It was a free screening at my school, UCSB (a top party university) and the theater only got 2/3rds full. The Hangover turned hundreds of people away when it previewed here. There was almost a small riot of ticketing issues for Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Hell, even Repo! The Genetic Opera filled up our 550 seat campus theater. The only movie preview that didn't fill up was...well...The Rocker.

There were a lot of long dead spots where no one laughed and there was absolutely no applause at the end of the picture. Discussion seemed muted as people left.

If the Hangover had an overlong third act, this movie has a trainwreck at the 80 minute mark. The entire resolution is basically a big FUCK YOU to the audience. Too, the movie can't decide if it wants to spoof high concept scifi tropes, or just engage in high concept scifi tropes. Consequently, we spend way too much time on the rules of time travel, even as the filmmakers clearly don't give a shit about such things.

I had been looking forward to this movie for ages, but both my roommate and myself left very disappointed. We did both agree that there were two great things in the movie though -- Lizzy Kaplan, who is adorable and whip smart, and Crispen Glover, who has a really bizarre ongoing joke about a missing arm.

comment #25

dinovelvet says ...

I think we're all overlooking one thing - it's MGM, and therefore stands zero chance of making any kind of money unless James Bond makes an appearance.

comment #26

BurmaShave says ...

I noticed Cusack didn't co-host the Comedy Central promotional block of movies the other day with the rest of the guys. Is he already pretending he's not in this movie?

comment #27

dinovelvet says ...

I think he's pretending he wasn't in any of his movies from the last ten years.

comment #28

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

That's pretty funny, dino...

Despite his seeming reluctance to plug or discuss nearly anything he's done in the last decade, do not underestimate John Cusack's power to draw a certain, 20-something female crowd into comedies. I have no idea why this is, precisely -- maybe the Say Anything effect -- but I do know that it exists.

comment #29

Eloi Manning says ...

What's the deal with Repo Men? It's due out this weekend but I've seen next to no promotion, other than Jude Law's SNL appearance. No reviews either. Is is a stinker? The trailer looked quite fun, in a low-rent '80s kind of way.

comment #30

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

In the words of LexG Repo Men is a YEP YEP. First-day watcher here. If it's garbage, I wouldn't necessarily be surprised, but the trailer does make it look like the kind of movie that just isn't made nearly enough these days.

comment #31

Eloi Manning says ...

Kaned: Completely agree. It has that sleazy, Verhoeven-esque vibe that you never see anymore. Law, Whitaker and Schreiber should be fun to watch in these roles.

comment #32

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

Verhoeven! Yes, yes it does...I was trying to think of someone's style that the preview reminded me of, and I think you just totally pinned it.

The fuck happened to Paul? I thought The Black Book was going to be the serious film that put him back on the map, then he'd go back to making some more of those sleazy shit-storms, but it just hasn't happened (yet).

Incidentally, just picked up Starship Troopers at Best Buy today for $4.99. I like Blu-Rays for their picture, but I think I like them even more for the way they've been driving down the prices of regular DVDs over the past year or so.

comment #33

Eloi Manning says ...

Yeah, you'd think that Screen Gems or Lionsgate would have given him some cash to make a sleazy thriller. But nothing since 2006, and nothing concrete in the works according to IMDb.

comment #34

dinovelvet says ...

What kills Repo Men for me is that shot in the ads where someone opens a door and Jude Law is standing there holding two knives, ready for action. This is clearly meant to be a BADASS reveal, if say, a Denzel Washington or Christian Bale was standing there, but unfortunately Law is half bald and looks like he weighs about 150 pounds so its almost like something out of Hot Fuzz. (You've got to wonder how many stars passed on it before it got kicked down to Law).

Last I heard of Verhoeven, he was attached to a Thomas Crown Affair sequel, but that's probably gone down the drain with the rest of MGM.

comment #35

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

Yeah, that just goes back to the old discussion (most recently brought up by Eloi, I believe) that we just don't really have any stars today who are both capable of quiet, intelligent acting AND kicking your ass. Seems like you pretty much have to decide between one or the other. I think the dual-knife reveal would be more badass with Alice Braga than Jude Law, frankly.

It's probably just as well about the Thomas Crown sequel...doesn't necessarily seem up Verhoeven's power-alley, anyway. Give that man some sci-fi and nipples -- preferably both -- and fast!

I actually have nothing against the young director Rodriguez recruited to shoot Predators to be released this summer, but let's be honest -- that's exactly the kinda flick that PV used to be able to knock out of the park and make it look effortless.

comment #36

nbxzero says ...

@Eloi

The SyFy Channel was running Repo Men promos all weekend. They had a tie-in with their movie "Dinoshark."

comment #37

BurmaShave says ...

Michael Douglas and Verhoeven should team up again, both of them could use it.

comment #38

LarryGopnik says ...

"An over-the-top ludicrous tone, but ludicrous in "quotes" -- winkingly so, intelligently so."

Jesus fuck, "intelligently so"?? Could you be more in the tank for a movie? Wait till you see this thing, Jeff, there's nothing intelligent about it.

comment #39

BurmaShave says ...

Wait I just read Dee saying CHLOE was perfect counterprogramming to HOW TO TRAIN yOUR DRAGON, even though it will only be in limited release. That's so stupid I want to tear my own face off like Mason Verger.

comment #40

Howlingman says ...

Burma, I don't claim to know what the hell's wrong with DeeZee, but can say he lacks any social graces, and is an absolute attention whore.

There's a point where we have to leave that big flaming bag of crazy at the door instead of stepping on it every time it shows up, killing every conversation he pops up in without fail.

He's obviously not going anywhere; the least we can do is pretend he doesnt exist.

comment #41

DeeZee says ...

Burma: What would you rather watch? Seyfried naked or another CG cartoon?

comment #42

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comment #43

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comment #44

sammiha says ...

It's probably just as well about the Thomas Crown sequel...doesn't necessarily seem up Verhoeven's power-alley, anyway.
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comment #45

sammiha says ...

There's a point where we have to leave that big flaming bag of crazy at the door instead of stepping on it every time it shows up, killing every conversation he pops up in without fail.
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comment #46

sammiha says ...

He's obviously not going anywhere; the least we can do is pretend he doesnt exist.
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comment #47

sammiha says ...

Last I heard of Verhoeven, he was attached to a Thomas Crown Affair sequel, but that's probably gone down the drain with the rest of MGM.
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comment #48

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