OK, so let’s start with that title shall we? It’s awesome isn’t it? And I mean that in the untrue, full-on, bodacious 1980’s meaning of the word. It’s bloody ridiculous and very cool, but can the filler live up to the label?
…well…sort of…
HTTM was put together by three guys ( and a fourth if you count director Steve Pink) and follows the misadventures of three guys ( a fourth if you count John Cusack’s nephew Jacob –played by an ‘exactly the same as in Sex Drive’ Clark Duke) who head off in search of simpler, happier times and wind up back in the 80’s-where they’re thoroughly confused. Exactly like the script.
Basically, HTTM channels 80’s comedies like Police Academy through the childish lens of 90’s gross out flicks and winds up being occasionally brilliant, but –like its protagonists –rather stupid. It’s the cinematic equivalent of people who think Right Said Fred were an 80’s band.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s some very funny moments here, and the gross out works well (failed musician Nick working in a dog grooming shop where he spends his days removing shit from pampered pet’s arses is a particular high point on the upchuckometer) and the whispered catchphrases (“great white buffalo…”) have more staying power –and truth to them – than the rest of the film put together. The only real problem is that the movie doesn’t know what kind of comedy it wants to be. Firstly, there’s a mountain of jokes about 80’s clothes, technology, music and even cold war politics, but with each character following their own dreams, there’s also a weird heart running through it, as Revenge of the Nerds cross-pollinates with The Sure Thing.
It’s odd, but Cusack seems to be off in his own little romantic comedy, a much darker and more serious movie with Zooey Deschanel that doesn’t quite belong. Likewise Craig Robinson (best known as The Office’s Darryl Philbin) is taking part in a weird underdog makes good film with oddly inserted tits out moments.
It’s all a bit of a muddle.
That said, the leads are never less than likeable, the time travel isn’t dwelt on and shouldn’t be, referenced only by Jacob -”Do I have to be the asshole who says -’hey we drank too much and travelled back in time to the 80s?” and it’s nice to see Chevy Chase pop up as a Fletch-esque hot tub engineer. The back-to-2010 coda doesn’t make a lick of sense but then, neither does the end of Weekend at Bernie’s –another strong influence.
Like the decade itself, it’s probably better off being forgotten, it’s no classic but it has its moments –get a pizza in and enjoy. Just don’t drink any Russian energy drinks while you’re at it. A big, stupid, whirlpool of fun.
