Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- goofy
- irreverent
- absurd
- lazy sunday
- group comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film playfully silly and occasionally charming, but too inconsistent and formulaic to sustain its slapstick energy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rod repeatedly attempts increasingly implausible moped stunts, with the bus-jumping challenge serving as the comic climax.
Rod sincerely considers himself a stunt man while his ineptitude consistently undermines his ambitions.
The Lonely Island’s feature debut carries over an exaggerated, sketch-like energy associated with their music-video comedy.
Rod organizes a record-setting stunt primarily to earn his stepfather’s respect and fund his operation.
Films like Hot Rod, and why
Napoleon Dynamite
shares broad slapstick, immature protagonists, outrageous physical comedy, and a warm undercurrent
Billy Madison
shares absurdist humor, man-child characters, exaggerated confidence, and offbeat small-town comedy
The World's Fastest Indian
shares stunt-driven comedy, reckless physical set pieces, and an irreverent comic tone
Superbad
shares ensemble slacker energy, escalating absurdity, and a goofy friendship-centered comic style
Movie Details
- Director
- Akiva Schaffer
- Release Date
- 2007-08-03
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (1146)
Cast
- Andy Samberg
- Isla Fisher
- Jorma Taccone
- Bill Hader
- Danny McBride
- Chris Parnell
- Sissy Spacek
- Ian McShane
- Will Arnett
- Chester Tam
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Paramount Plus Essential
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Hot Rod about?
- A delusional small-town stuntman turns a moped and a school-bus jump into an absurd quest for family respect, money, and romantic validation.
- What is Hot Rod like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hot Rod as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Hot Rod violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Hot Rod as mild.
- What did critics think of Hot Rod?
- Critics broadly found the film playfully silly and occasionally charming, but too inconsistent and formulaic to sustain its slapstick energy.
- Which films are like Hot Rod?
- Films with a similar feel include Napoleon Dynamite, Billy Madison, The World's Fastest Indian, and Superbad.
- How long is Hot Rod?
- Hot Rod runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch Hot Rod?
- In United States, Hot Rod streams on Paramount Plus Essential.
