Stunted growth

If Hot Rod is any indication, cinematic comedies are getting more and more stupid. But as long as they stay within a small production budget, it's hard for me to mind.

Someone (specifically, Lorne Michaels) thought it would be a good idea to tap Andy Samberg and his pals of The Lonely Island -- masters of short viral videos, and not much else -- to make a full-length feature. And, surprisingly, it managed to not entirely suck. Go figure.

Samberg plays Rod, a manchild determined to become an Evel Knievel-type. In the classic plot device, he vows to raise money to pay for a heart transplant for his disapproving stepfather. Stunt mishaps ensue. (Actually, the stunt work in this movie was quite impressive. Staging a successful jump is one thing; it's probably harder to crash and burn on purpose.)

I should mention that Isla Fisher (Scooby-Doo, Wedding Crashers) is also in this as the PG-rated love interest. She's so fresh-faced and likable here that you almost forget that she's carrying the spawn of Sacha Baron Cohen. Whatever. She coasts through her role, not even trying to conceal her Australian accent.

In the absence of character development -- trust me, there is none -- there's a premium on making the movie as weird as possible. For the first two acts, the action seems to be set squarely in the 1980s, with Europe supplying all the music. (Why they add the Internet and cell phones to jumpstart the third act's resolution is beyond me.) But the overall effect is very retro cheesy and laughable, almost reminiscent at times of Wet Hot American Summer.

That may be good or bad, depending on how you feel about Wet Hot American Summer.