One can argue, but I feel as though Hot Tub Time Machine was an instant classic, and to this day I go back and rewatch (at least three dozen times.) HTTM is a whimsical, off the wall irrelevant comedy that is so stingy and self referential (filled to the core with stunning running gags) it connects on a comedic level I never thought possible. The mixture of John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry and Clarke Duke  never seemed like the correct choice, but it was. The remarkable on screen chemistry and silly antics make it one of the most memorable films today (I even said in my review, and I quote “better than The Hangover”)

So instead of leaving the film a cult favorite it turned into on DVD – some executives felt a sequel was blatantly necessary, news flash; it wasn’t. John Cusack was a smart man and jumped ship ahead of time (probably read the script was like … ‘yikes’)

HTTM2 is not only sluggish and just plain crude it’s remarkable how severely unfunny the script is. What once chemistry meshed so well instead descends to even unremorseful territory, with an even less funny Adam Scott stepping in for Cusack’s absence only creates more conflict than necessary.

The film picks up after the events of the first one. Lou (Corddry) is still very wealthy and has used the time traveling tub exploits greatly (Lougle, and Motley Lou) to name a few among his success. Then there is Nick Webber (Robinson) who is also using his knowledge of the future to steal songs that were made famous by other artists. Jacob (Duke) is the only one of the original bunch to have not gained any leverage from the time traveling mechanism (probably because he wasn’t born yet)

When the film decides to hone a plot, is when Lou is shot (in the dick of course) by an unknown assailant. Forcing the crew to travel back in time (cue overlong nostalgic montage, that’s almost word for word – the same as the first one, to the popular song “Louder than a Bomb”.) They travel back in time to stop the attempted murder pn Lou before it happens. Which then in turn leads them to Adam’s son (Scott).

Steve Pink once again takes directing chair here, and Sean Anders is the screenwriter, and for fans that showed up to the first one and were pleasantly surprised, will show up to this and be burned. Aside from a few chuckles, and one decent laughable moment – there is nothing redeemable about an idea that was already milked pretty distinctly the first time around. Filled to it’s core with flat transitions and humor, topped off with gay anti-semitic jokes. I wish I could go back in time and unwatch this movie, wait I can’t? I’ll predict the future then, stay away from this movie-and you will do just fine. Grade: D-