Silly little film that is unassuming fun as long as you don't come with high expectations

Rating: Null/10 (12 April 2009)

Rod Kimble is an amateur stuntman, whose antics don't inspire the local population so much as they do amuse them. Always setting up stunts with his friends, things change when Rod learns that his step-father needs an organ transplant but has no insurance to allow it. Having never yet beaten his step-father in a fight and keen to humiliate him, Rod is determined to save his step-father's life (even if only long enough to defeat him fair and square). In order to do this he decides to jump 13 school buses in front of a paying crowd.
When this film recently arrived on Sky I must admit that I had never heard of it and didn't give it much attention. A while later I ended up watching it for the lack of anything better (well, that's not true – it was more a matter of looking for "lazy" viewing). Having this approach to the film probably helped me enjoy it because my expectations and my demands were low and what I found was a daft little "sports underdog" film. Those expecting frequent big belly laughs will be disappointed because the film is not that good. However it wisely sets itself firmly in the small-town loser world that makes it have quit a low-key feel that is matched by the manner of delivery as well (so much of it feels "homemade" rather than the big film production that it is of course). This allowed it to win me over a touch because I warm to it a little bit as one would to an indie comedy as opposed to the big star vehicle blockbuster.
This doesn't completely redeem it though and it is never as funny nor as creative as it would like to have though. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty amusing across the whole film but it doesn't hit the high notes very often. The cast help to some degree. Samberg in particular has a sort of gangly charm to him and he is kept grounded by some nice "going nowhere" characters from McBride and his other friends. Fisher is asked to be attractive, light and simple and this she does very well, making her aspect of the film work quite well. Of course she is helped by a typically good turn from Arnett – although I would have liked more time given to him. McShane is good in it and I really enjoyed the small turn from Parnell (30 Rock's Dr Spaceman).
Hot Rod is not a great film by any means but it does have its charm. It is slightly derivative and not as funny as it would like to be but it is still consistently amusing and with a genial air that makes it hard to dislike. Best approached with low demands but it performs well enough if you do.