Hot Tub Time Machine Review

Messages: Despite the ultimate positive message -- that people have the power to change their situations -- the movie is filled with gags about drugs, fighting, and objectification of women that make its lesser messages something to note.

Role models: None of the main characters are worth emulating: they are all sad, beaten-down, middle-aged guys whose lives did not turn out as they hoped, plus one twentysomething who spends all his time indoors on a computer. Their behavior throughout most of the movie consists of debauchery and indecision, and one character takes a morally questionable path at the end. But eventually the characters come to feel good about themselves and learn to deserve the good things they have. Perhaps the twentysomething, Jacob, is the most positive of the group; he seems to have gained some wisdom from the mistakes of his elders.

Violence: The movie has a good amount of shouting and arguing, plus an ongoing series of mild fist fights with a bully.

Sex: Aside from plenty of flirting, kissing, sexual innuendo, some naked male backsides, and some visual jokes about oral sex, there are two sex acts. One character has sex in a tub with a girl, but stops because he feels guilty about being married (although this is the past and he's not technically married yet). There is full frontal female nudity in this scene. In another scene, a character has unprotected sex with a woman (the point is to get her pregnant so that her grown son can continue to exist in the present), though no nudity is visible. A third sex act almost happens, a three-way between two guys and a woman, and the scene contains female frontal nudity and a naked male backside, as well as jokes about other parts of the anatomy.

Language: This movie features almost constant swearing from beginning to end, including, most frequently, "f--k" and all its different variations. Other foul language and innuendo includes "s--t," "dick," "penis," "vagina," "p---y," "ass," "balls," "Jesus," "bitch," "slut," and many more.

Consumerism: Many period products and brands, circa 1986 are shown and referenced, mostly for humor, including MTV, Sony Walkman, and Jansport. Pepsi is shown and referenced. And a Russian-made "Red Bull" knock off is essential to the plot. It's not actually "Red Bull," but the real "Red Bull" is referenced in comparison.

Drinking, drugs and smoking: These adult characters drink a great deal (beer, scotch, vodka, etc.) and do plenty of drugs, but it's mostly for humor. Many different kinds of drugs, from cocaine to Ritalin, are referenced and/or shown. One character eats psychedelic mushrooms, but they seem to have no effect. The same character also smokes pot from a bong. One scene should be noted: early in the film, a character nearly dies after drinking and driving and then parking in his garage with his car engine running. He is (jokingly?) referred to as an alcoholic.