“Hot Tub Time Machine 2” answers the question of how bad a movie has to be for John Cusack to want nothing to do with it. His original “HTTM” co-stars Rob Corddry, Clark Duke and Craig Robinson all returned for this misbegotten, low-energy sequel, which—despite having the same writer (Josh Heald) and director (Steve Pink) as the first one—has little of its charm. The three remaining guys travel to the future this time (taking nostalgia-related comedy off the table), and only 10 years ahead (a waste). Playing Cusack’s son, Adam Scott partly fills the fourth slot in the ensemble, but it’s mostly been reduced to a trio—and one without an authentic emotional core to ground it. These three buffoons and jerks are acceptable (and sometimes funny) as one-dimensional vulgarians, but pretty unappealing as protagonists.
C- (1 hr., 31 min.; )
Originally published in City Weekly.
