Hot Rod (2007)

Hot Rod is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Akiva Schaffer (in his directorial debut) and written by Pam Brady. The film stars Andy Samberg as amateur stuntman Rod Kimble, whose step-father, Frank (Ian McShane) continuously mocks and disrespects him. When Frank becomes ill, Rod raises money for his heart operation by executing his largest stunt yet. The film also stars Jorma Taccone, Sissy Spacek, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Isla Fisher and Bill Hader.

The film was originally drafted by Pam Brady (who retains full writing credit) as a vehicle for Saturday Night Live star Will Ferrell, but the project never commenced. Lorne Michaels convinced Paramount to let the Lonely Island, who were growing famous for their work on SNL, take over the film. The group subsequently re-wrote the film with a heavy emphasis on offbeat surreal humor. The film was shot in Vancouver over the summer of 2006. The film's score was composed by former Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin, and its soundtrack features several songs by the Swedish rock band Europe.

Hot Rod was released by Paramount Pictures on August 3, 2007, and was a box office failure, grossing only $14 million of its $25 million budget. As the film's producers predicted, it received mixed reviews, with critics criticizing the film's script and humor. It has become a popular cult film on home video.