Hot Rod is Not So Hot

The hotly anticipated DVD release of the movie Hot Rod is expected on November 27.  According to the official Hot Rod movie site, “Amateur stuntman Rod Kimble (Andy Samberg) has a problem – his step-father Frank (Ian McShane) is a jerk.  Frank picks on Rod, tosses him around like a rag doll in their weekly sparring sessions, and definitely doesn’t respect him, much less his stunts.  But when Frank falls ill, it’s up to Rod to stage the jump of his life in order to save his step-father.  The plan:  Jump 15 buses, raise the money for Frank’s heart operation, and then… kick his ass.”

For those who would like to experience the performance of a hot rod in real life, rather than simply on the movie screen, there are several options.  DFW Elite Auto Rental offers several high performance automobiles for rent, including a 2007 Bentley Continental GT Convertible, a 2005 Dodge Viper SRT10, and a 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe.  If you are a hard-core enthusiast, another option is becoming a member of an exotic car sharing club such as the DFW Elite Car Club.  And when you want a day of relaxation while driving cars with some serious horsepower, check out DFW Drive Your Dream, which offers the opportunity to drive several incredible automobiles in a single day.

Unfortunately, the movie Hot Rod didn’t perform much like the cars at DFW Elite Auto Rental.  The movie had a release date of August 3, and box office numbers for September 27 were unimpressive.  According to Boxofficemojo.com, the PG-13-rated action comedy made just under $14 million in its first eight weeks.

The New York Times did not have a favorable review of the movie, calling it “…almost proudly crummy looking, as though paying tribute with its sloppy framing and clumsy editing to the goofy, half-baked quality of its hero’s stunts.” 

The reviewer went on to say, “Rod is the latest version of what is fast becoming a cliché: the guy who thinks he’s cool but is actually, objectively a loser. You are meant to laugh knowingly at the discrepancy between his self-image and the reality he cluelessly inhabits, and then, to excuse the cruelty latent in this laughter, to sympathize with the sincerity and nobility of his dreams and root for their fulfillment.”

If the New York Times is correct in its assessment of Hot Rod, perhaps your time would be better served by renting a hot rod from DFW Elite Auto Rental.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer living in the Twin Cities.  Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services. read more stories by freelancer Kate Miller-Wilson on our exotic car rental news pages.