"No, we didn't have time."
"Cool."
Rod Kimble (Samberg) is an aspiring daredevil, like Evel Knievel. He performs stunts, like jumping the public pool with his dirt bike, with the help of his team: mechanic his brother Kevin (Taccone) is the manager and records all the stunts and training, Dave (Hader) is the mechanic, and Rico (McBride) who makes the ramps. The only problem, Rod is a terrible stuntman.
After an unsuccessful stunt, Rod learns that his stepfather, Frank (McShane) is very sick and needs an expensive operation that the family cannot afford. Desparate to win his approval, Rod vows to perform an awe inspiring stunt to raise the money needed: he will jump 15 buses on his bike, one more than Evel Knievel... and then Rod will have more time to prepare to best Frank in battle and win the honor of being a man. Meanwhile, Rod is distracted by the return of his childhood crush, Denise (Fisher), who is dating a jerk (Will Arnett), but wants to join Rod's team.
This film is another example of a movie I didn't really want to see, because the previews looked stupid, but ended up watching because my friends loved it... and ended up enjoying as well. Similar to comedy hit Napoleon Dynamite, this film is stupid... but that's what works: it is ridiculous, but you can't help but laugh. Director Akiva Schaffer and stars Adam Samberg and Jorma Taccone have been working together for years, and found a nice rhythm with this film. While the script was originally written with Will Ferrel in mind, they were able to retool it to fit Samberg's comedic abilities. And they found the right people to fill the rest of the cast: SNL regular Bill Hader and Danny McBride play off each other well.
The women of the film are forced to be the more serious, adult characters, without putting them in a different league: they love the men in the film, and understand / put-up-with their shenanigans. Ian McShane is ridiculous as Frank, still taunting / baiting Rod's anger while laying on a couch. He is gruff and sarcastic, and still able to beat the crap out of Rod.... their interaction is laugh out loud funny!
No, you won't be smarter for watching the film, but you will leave with some great new quotes... the whiskey conversation is great, especially when someone else is around finish your lines. Check it out!
Hot Rod (2007) 88 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for crude humor, language, some comic drug-related and violent content.
Director: Akiva Schaffer
Starring: Adam Samberg as Rod Kimble
Jorma Taccone as Kevin Powell
Bill Hader as Dave
Danny McBride as Rico
Isla Fisher as Denise
Sissy Spacek as Marie Powell
Ian McShane as Frank Powell
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