"You don't need money, don't take fame
Don't need no credit card to ride this train
It's strong and it's sudden and it's cruel sometimes
but it might just save your life
That's the power of love"
 
It's amazing how something can just whisk you off in time. Hear those lyrics and what do you think? July 3^rd 30 years ago Marty McFly put the pedal to the metal, hit 88MPH, and took us back in time for the wildest Time Trilogy put on film. That is, until now.
 
This week in theaters, Paramount Pictures presents the sequel "Hot Tub Time Machine 2" almost five years from the original release back in 2010. If you don't have a DeLorean to go back in time, or a Netflix account to rent it I will fill you in on the concept. "Hot Tub Time Machine" was about four buddies that go to a Ski lodge and find a hot tub that miraculously takes them back in time to the 1980's giving them an opportunity to change their past and even their future. The twist is one of them stayed behind and took advantage of knowing the future which leads us to…..
 
HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2!
 
Right from the beginning we get to find out what has happened since the original film. Lou (played by Rob Corddry best known for his work on "The Daily Show", "Children's Hospital" and "Warm Bodies") fills us in on what has happened to himself, Nick (played by Craig Robinson from "This is the End", "Pineapple Express" and singing about his Dodge Dart) and Lou's son Jacob (played by Clark Duke best known for his work on "The Office" and "Kick Ass"). Shortly afterwards, At a party Lou throws, he gets shot by someone (it's a mystery who did it) and Lou drags him and Nick into the hot tub to go back in time to save his life. Only one problem….It goes forward in time. Yup, forward! I was just glad they only went 10 years into the future and didn't try to create hover boards like the Back To The Future 2, or did they?
 
Upon realizing that they were in the future they came to the realization that Lou is there as some sort of cosmic glitch, allowing him to find his killer, which they assume comes from the future to the present to kill Lou at his party. As Nick mentions….Looper! If you haven't seen "Looper" you really need to catch up on your Netflix movies already! Moving on….. The gang decides to find Adam (who in the first Hot Tub Time Machine was played by John Cusack) and finds his son Adam Jr. (played by Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation). Adam Jr. tags along and the four set out to find Lou's killer.
 
Now I could go into a lot of the wild and crazy stuff that goes on with in this film but let me just say this. Hot Tub Time Machine 2 made me laugh! Craig Robinson with all his singing, the shameless antics of Lou played as only Rob Corddry could, and the addition of Adam Scott playing good wholesome man who completely is corrupted by Lou just clicked. It would have been cool to see John Cusack reprise his role as Adam Sr. but it didn't break the sequel and who knows what the end of the trilogy will bring. Critics will crush this film calling it complete garbage and such, but the funny thing is most critics have forgotten what its like just to go see a movie to escape and laugh.
 
Hot Tub Time Machine 2 also gives us a few fun cameos by Chevy Chase who reprises his role as the Hot Tub Repairman and also gives Christian Slater work! Hell I don't even remember the last time I saw him on the big screen! Maybe he needs the Tub to go back in time! Another notable nod that cracked me up was when they went forward into time, you get to see Jessica Williams as the host of "The Daily Show"! Is it possible? Did they know John Stuart was leaving the show? Is it possible the Hot Tub Time Machine really exists?
 
I don't know, but I do hope they continue this series and close it as a trilogy! Heck if we are following the BTTF Script we need to go WAY back to the past now! Could we be seeing these guys as teens or maybe their parents? They could bring Cusack back and close this series out with a bang! Meanwhile HTTM2 is just as crazy as the first. It's like they took the goofy humor from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" added a touch of "Looper" and the wildness of "The Hangover" and just laid it over the basis of "Back To The Future". Is it Original?….No. Is it an Oscar contender?….hell no! Is it fun and will it make you laugh?…Oh yea it will!
 
My suggestion for the weekend….Grab your friends, have some food and drinks and go see Hot Tub Time Machine 2! I promise you, if you look at what's out in the theaters, this is your best chance to laugh this weekend!
 
I give Hot Tub Time Machine 2, three Ladybugs out of five, It's fun and will make you laugh, but don't try this at home and when the lady says leave it on for 24 hours….LISTEN TO HER!!
 
Hot Tub Time Machine 2  is Rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, graphic nudity, drug use and some violence. That should be enough right there for you to want to see it already!