Bill Hader’s 10 best performances of all time (so far)
By Rachel Roth
9. Hot Rod
Original Release Date: August 3, 2007
Box Office: I feel bad for this movie, it was a financial bomb making only $14,334,401 at the box office against a $25.3 million budget.
Critical Review: Hot Rod isn’t exactly a renowned film, but it’s become a favored cult classic since it’s release on home video. Its Rotten Tomatoes score is just 39%.
About the Role: Hader plays the extremely dim-witted Dave McLean. The childhood friend of the film’s protagonist Rod who becomes part of Rod’s crew in helping him perform an impossible stunt. He may be dumb enough to walk around with a piece of metal sticking out of his head but he’s not without some wisdom. It’s his words that keep Rod afloat when all hope seems lost.
Simply the Best: Hot Rod, directed by Akiva Schaffer in his directorial debut, stars the comedy group “The Lonely Island”, who also co-wrote and co-produced the film. Andy Samberg stars as Rod Kimble, an amateur (nice way of saying horrible) stuntman who aspires to live up to his dead father, who was also a stuntman. Without his father around, he craves the respect of his stepfather Frank (Ian McShane) who repeatedly mocks his dreams of fame.
When Frank suddenly needs a heart transplant, Rod refuses to let the old man die without winning his respect (not exactly the nicest reason to save someone’s life but okay) and decides to raise the money himself. His plan? To perform a single jump over fifteen school buses, and then put the proceeds towards Frank’s surgery.
Joining his crew is his neighbor Denise (Isla Fisher), his friends Dave (Hader) and Rico (Danny McBride), and his half-brother Kevin (Jorma Taccone ). The movie is completely silly but is in fact so silly that its impossible to even try and take seriously, which makes it very relaxing to watch. No thought process is required. It’s Without a Paddle but with more violence and with stuntmen.