Hot Rod

It's fitting, then, that Samberg would make his starring debut in a film at least partially about the pleasures of keeping it small. In Hot Rod, he plays a resident of a suburban anywhere that, in spite of the visible cell phones and computers, seems stuck somewhere in the mid-to-late-'80s. To the accompaniment of Stacey Q and hair metal, Samberg and his pals spend their days constructing elaborate stunts for Samberg to execute, badly, on an underpowered moped. But their hobby takes on a new urgency when Samberg learns his stepfather (Deadwood's Ian McShane) needs an expensive operation. Having never proved himself a man in McShane's eyes, and determined to best him in a fight at least once, Samberg decides to put all his energy into one ridiculous, highly profitable stunt.

Schaffer directs, and Taccone plays Samberg's half-brother. SNL pal Bill Hader plays another member of his crew. Isla Fisher is on hand as the love interest, Will Arnett plays Samberg's rival, and Parnell has a funny bit as well. With that company, Hot Rod was probably a lot of fun to make, and sometimes it's even fun to watch. Scripted by South Park veteran Pam Brady—and filled with the '80s-inspired training montages that have become a staple of that show—Hot Rod is alternately clever and belabored. The film carries over the spirit of the Lonely Island crew's previous work, but what works on a monitor for three minutes doesn't always work on the big screen at feature length. Still, Hot Rod keeps a sweet tone that's filled with affection for its characters, and enough laughs to become this summer's most mildly recommendable comedy.