HotRod Movie Review

HotRod The Movie is not a smash hit mearly a fender bender - 6.5 out of 10. I saw HotRod and another short film about a Pig (same cast) by the same director during the Kingston film festival. HOTROD THE MOVIE follows Joe Kemp (and others) who lives in a small town just outside of Kingston Ontario.

Most of the film is about how Kemp and several other smash up derby participants prepare their cars for the up and coming derby at a local fair. HotRod's goal is to win once again a derby he won several years ago. The majority of the film plays out with several "calling on" of other drivers bits combined with the preparing of everyone's cars for the event.

There are some very funny and unique moments. In particular the "Berminator" (don't ask) and when Kemp decides to drive his car down the highway. The car has no floor so Kemp sits on a 2 by 4 and it breaks. Unfortunatly it never really goes anywhere though. I won't spoil it but imagine the most underwhelming ending possible. HOTROD THE MOVIE ends up being alot of boring car fixing and trash talking mixed with the odd chuckle.

HOTROD THE MOVIE is not a bad documentary it is simply an average documentary that shows lots of promise for the young Queens filmmaker. I recomend it to fans of motorsports and anyone who lives in Kingston or Gan and wonders what goes on just outside the city limits

Review by Terry Semple