enjoyably wacky comedy

Rating: 7/10 (24 July 2009)

For a fun, mindless and relaxing good time, check out "Hot Rod," one of those goofy, lowest-common-denominator slapstick comedies which won't do much to raise your IQ or make you a better person for having seen it, but which just might put a smile on your face - provided you're not too highbrow to give yourself over to it, that is.
Prime credit for the movie's success goes to SNL's powerhouse-of-energy Andy Sandberg, an immensely gifted physical comedian who doesn't get nearly the recognition he deserves for his talents. Here he plays Rod Kimble, a developmentally-challenged wannabe daredevil who fancies himself the heir apparent to none other than the late great Evel Knievel himself. To that end, Rod devises elaborate stunts - usually involving jumping over large objects or a series of large objects on his secondhand moped - that invariably lead to his winding up face down in the dirt or smashed headlong into some massive immovable object. But you just can't keep a good stuntman down and, after every fall, Rod picks himself up, dusts himself off and, disregarding his bruised body and bruised ego, heads on to his next venture, eternally optimistic that this time he will be able to complete his mission. Rod's goal is to impress not only the pretty girl who lives next door (Isla Fisher) but his mucho macho step dad (Ian McShane) who thinks Rod is just a mollycoddled, cape-wearing pantywaist, undeserving of his respect.
Joining in the fun are fellow SNL stars, Bill Hader and Chris Parnell, along with "Arrested Development"'s Will Arnett and acting legend Sissy Spacek to class up the joint.
Replete with corny '80s-style musical montage sequences and some mighty impressive stunt work, "Hot Rod" will win you over with its good-natured dopiness and charm. And the good feeling that it engenders may even be worth those couple of brain cells you're sure to lose in the course of watching it.