Hot Rod

You know, it’s at times like these that I like to pause and reflect on what makes a good movie. Why do some legends of the silver screen leave us cheering with rapturous abandon, chattering excitedly to our seatmates about the experience we have just shared while others see us walking out of the theater in disgust, our delicious snacks abandoned and our outlook ever so slightly dimmed? I can’t answer that question for you, loyal listener, but I can say that, for me personally, the former category is unlikely to contain many overlong, jumbled, paper-thin “comedies” about young men trying to take revenge on their abusive step-fathers. Enter Hot Rod, a 2007 comedy directed by Akiva Schaffer and hosting a cast of SNL alums. Hot Rod charts the effort of Rod, an aspiring stuntman, to raise money for a heart transplant for his stepfather Frank, the idea being that he might one day earn Frank’s respect by . . . beating him up. Hilarious. Anyways, Nathan and Elliot watched it because some people Nathan knows requested it, so let it never be said that we ignore the suggestion box. Expect plenty of sarcasm as we break Hot Rod down, and look out for a very special surprise guest star! Let’s put the pedal to the metal!