Hot Rod: A Real American Zero

It's been almost seven years now since The Ladies Man, the last movie to be based on a "Saturday Night Live" skit, was released. But that hasn't stopped the show's performers from branching out onto the big screen, as recently demonstrated by the likes of Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler. Relative newbie Andy Samberg is taking his first big step up to the cinematic bat with Hot Rod, a hit-and-miss comedy that's unfortunately more of the latter than the former.

Best known for the Chronicles of Narnia-inspired rap video on "SNL" a couple years back, Samberg plays Rod Kimble, a small-town schmoe who fancies himself the world's next great stuntman. This Evel Knievel-in-training's routines always seem to result in more bodily harm than cheers from the crowds, but that doesn't stop Rod from getting back on the proverbial horse after falling off for the umpteenth time. But Rod's going to have to realize that dream faster than he thought, after finding out that his gruff and demeaning stepdad (Ian McShane) needs a life-saving heart transplant that his insurance won't pay for. Wanting to save his stepdad's life (just so he can beat the stuffing out of him and finally earn his respect), Rod and his "crew" (Bill Hader, Jorma Taccone, and Danny R. McBride) set about pulling off that one great stunt to raise enough money for the operation: a dangerous jump over 15 buses. As the day of the jump grows nearer, Rod also finds himself falling for the sunny and charming Denise (Isla Fisher), whose arrogant boyfriend (Will Arnett) isn't about to give her up so easily.