Ian McShane: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

2. Frank Powell - Hot Rod (2007)

I consider myself a fan of cult cinema. I recognise the appeal of films which break a lot of the accepted rules of cinematic storytelling, and I've hosted radio programmes which have celebrated their unique appeal. But for all the time I've spent persuading audiences to see the likes of Logan's Run, Flash Gordon and The Magic Christian, there are some cult classics that I genuinely don't get. Hot Rod is one of those films, and it's also the place where we find one of McShane's laziest performances. Hot Rod is the first and so far only feature film from Akiva Schaffer, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live and for the comedy video 'Jizz In My Pants'. It follows Rod Kimble (Andy Samberg), whose late father supposedly worked with legendary daredevil Evel Knievel. Desperate to follow in his father's footsteps, Rod is hamstrung by a lack of talent and his stepfather Frank (McShane) who humilitiates him in their sparring matches. After Frank becomes ill and in need of a heart transplant, Rod resolves to jump the length of fifteen school buses and donate the proceeds towards the surgery. Hot Rod isn't a bad film so much as a misguided one. It can't decide whether it wants to be a throwback to 1980s comedies with adolescent jokes or a moving drama about family values. Much of the problem lies in McShane's performance, which falls down when presented with either of these options. His comic moments are too aggressive and mean to gel with the lighter, dorkier comedy between Rod and his friends, and when he tries to be dramatic he comes across as forced and mawkish. It's a thoroughly unconvincing performance - but not quite the worst of his career...