Time traveling back to the 1980s might not be such a bad idea. At least people living in that era didn’t have to watch a dreadful 2010 movie called Hot Tub Time Machine. But wait, if I traveled to the 80s now, wouldn’t I still remember suffering through one of the worst movies ever made? Please, Stephen Hawking, help me out here.

How could John Cusack (2012) even consider appearing in a movie like this? Still, he’s also one of the producers, so I can’t help being very worried about him. Cusack happens to be one of my favorite actors --  and I’m afraid he’s going through some kind of crisis. What else might explain his involvement in Hot Tub Time Machine?  

There’s not one believable character in this fantasy comedy; the dialogue consists mostly of the f-word spoken or shouted by everyone on screen; the special effects look like they were put together by kindergarten children; the universal theme of friendship takes a raunchy pounding; and the plot makes no sense at all.

Cusack plays Adam, one of three friends who are all going through rough patches. Rob Corddry (What Happens in Vegas) as Lou and Craig Robinson (TV’s The Office) as Nick round out the group. They’ve grown apart since their good-time days in the 80s. Adam has just been dumped, Nick’s wife dominates him, and wild man Lou is suspected of trying to commit suicide. In an effort to help Lou, Adam and Nick take him to a place where they had fun in their glory days. Surprise! It’s dusty and run-down now -- but after jumping into the magical hot tub outside their hotel room -- voila! -- they find themselves in the 80s at a very crucial period for all of them. When I say all, I have to include Adam’s nephew (Clark Duke) who came along for the ride -- although he wasn’t even alive in the 80s. Don’t ask.

Somehow, this visit back in time brings the friends closer together and changes their lives for the better. Unfortunately, Hot Tub Time Machine impacted my life in a negative way, for now I have to worry about the possibility of a Hot Tub Time Machine 2. (Capsule review)    

(Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and rated “R” for strong crude and sexual content, nudity, drug use and pervasive language.)

For more information about this film, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.