Hot Rod (2007)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Akiva Schaffer

Writer (WGA):

Pam Brady (written by)

Release Date:

3 August 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Smack destiny in the face

Plot:

Self-proclaimed stuntman Rod Kimble is preparing for the jump of his life - to clear fifteen buses to raise money for his abusive stepfather Frank's life-saving heart operation.

Plot Keywords:

Slacker | Humiliation | Neighbor | Moped | Man Child

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Nov. 19

6:30 PM

SHOW

Cast

Andy Samberg	...	Rod Kimble
Jorma Taccone	...	Kevin Powell
Bill Hader	...	Dave
Danny McBride	...	Rico (as Danny McBride)
Isla Fisher	...	Denise
Sissy Spacek	...	Marie Powell
Ian McShane	...	Frank Powell
Will Arnett	...	Jonathan
Chris Parnell	...	Barry Pasternack
Chester Tam	...	Richardson
Mark Acheson	...	Homeless Dude
Brittany Tiplady	...	Maggie
Ken Kirzinger	...	Trailer Guy
Brittney Irvin	...	Cathy (as Britt Irvin)
Alana Husband	...	Waitress

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude humor, language, some comic drug-related and violent content.

Runtime:

USA:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #43438) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Finland:K-13 | Argentina:13 | Sweden:7 | Iceland:12 | South Africa:10M | Norway:11 | Netherlands:12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | France:U

Filming Locations:

Burnaby North Secondary School, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Akiva Schaffer's mother makes a cameo as an extra in two scenes. She's pelted with flyers by Richardson as she walks to her van, and later, she is shown sitting next to him during the screening of Rod's video.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Rod falls down the hill, when he is telling the crew that they are going to raise money to save Frank's life, Dave has a mug which changes from his hands to the table between shots.

Quotes:

Rod Kimble: I'd rather die than live in a world where I can't kick your ass.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Footloose (1984)

Soundtrack:

Rockit

Can't wait for August 3rd!

This film screened in Minneapolis last night (at which they also distributed free T-shirts, pins and fake mustaches) and I have not laughed this hard in a very long time. I laughed so hard it made my stomach hurt, and that hasn't happened to me in a movie in years.

It reminded me very much of Will Ferrell's "Anchorman" and "Talladega Nights," but even moreso it seems like a throwback to the kind of movies Adam Sandler used to make. There's a lot of "Billy Madison"-inspired randomness and absurdity that just cracked me up, and the stunts look truly dangerous.

I will not say anymore about this film except I can't wait to see it again when it opens August 3rd and I think Andy Samberg could explode after this film. Not literally, let's hope.