Why Hot Rod Is One Of The Most Underappreciated Comedies Of All Time

What makes Hot Rod work so well is not just the perfect, irreverant tone to the writing, but the stars in the film. You have a pre-Kenny Powers Danny McBride here, sharpening that whole McBride steez we will come to love. We have Will Arnett playing the same asshole he always plays (himself), as well as Chris Parnell playing that same pensive character he always plays (himself), but all of them doing it long before that would become their style. You really get to see some young talent here honing what would go on to be their “things.” Heck, even The Lonely Island guys (who also both act in it) test some insane shit out in this movie.

Take this scene, for example:

That scene is in the middle of the movie, and they then transition to the next scene with no regard to what happened or why. That is pretty much how The Lonely Island would form most of their digital shorts over the years following Hot Rod. They are insane and irreverent, and all that groundwork is laid down here for anyone observant enough to pick up on it.