10 Movies That Worked Despite Their Absurd Premise

In 2007, hit internet comedy band, Lonely Island, came together to release their first movie. Hot Rod was a silly, subversive and extremely funny movie that, unfortunately, bombed at the box office. However, time has been kind to it and its cast, becoming solidified as a bona fide cult classic and launching a movie career that's still going strong today.

Things seem innocuous at first; Rod is a helpless, drifting amateur stuntman who wants nothing more than to earn the respect of his step-father, played by the brilliant Ian McShane. In order to do that, he has one simple task: beat his new dad in a physical fight. Things quickly take a turn, though, as Frank (McShane) falls seriously ill. Rod vows to rack up enough cash with his stunts to pay for Frank's life-saving surgery... so he can beat him half to death.

It's a plot that perfectly matches the movie's light, surreal tone and sense of humour. It manages to simultaneously have stakes both low and high, facilitating a consistent stream of absurd gags and laugh-out-loud slapstick. Filled with a game cast, unexpected sincerity and pacing that doesn't allow for boredom, Hot Rod was a triumph.