“HTTM,” as the title might suggest, follows a group of best friends as they travel back in time—via hot tub—to 1986, where they must find a way to get back home, participating in absurd adventures along the way.
Clark Duke, 24, who plays nerdy and sarcastic Jacob in “HTTM,” grinned as he explained his reason for signing on to the movie.
“I’ve always wanted to be in a period piece,” Duke said.
The relatively young actor has appeared in the movie “Sex Drive” and the ABC Family television show “Greek.” Duke also starred in the short Web series, “Clark and Michael,” which chronicles a fictional Duke, and best friend and fellow actor Michael Cera, as they attempt to become famous.
“I plan to try to keep starring in movies,” Duke said. “I think [Michael Cera] actually lost money working on ‘Clark and Michael’ because we were filming in his apartment. I’m really proud of ‘Clark and Michael,’ but I don’t know what I would top that with.”
Rob Corddry, 39, may be best known for his long standing role on “The Daily Show,” where he served as a correspondent from 2002 to 2006. Corddry shared his struggles as an aspiring actor.
“When I got to New York I fancied myself quite an important actor,” Corddry said. “I just did a lot of downtown Shakespeare, and if it was not written in iambic pentameter I would literally wipe my ass with it. So, yeah, I was very pretentious.”
Despite portraying Ari Fleischer in Oliver Stone’s “W,” Corddry said he is often cast as the typical funnyman.
“Usually I would only play the jackasses,” Corddry said. “I did a lot of Shakespeare, but I would usually play the clowns or the fools, so I never really got to do anything else, so it just kind of naturally happened. I auditioned for a sketch group…and I got in it and loved it. I liked writing comedy a lot, I found.”
Craig Robinson, 38, is best known for his role as Darryl Philbin on “The Office.” Sporting a Dunder Mifflin jacket, he explained his relationship with his fans.
“They’re very supportive, the fans,” Robinson said. “They know and love me as Darryl; people love the show.”
The stars of “HTTM” described some of their experiences acting in the movie, including Robinson, who said he had to learn to ski for the comedy.
“I remember they said: ‘Craig, you got to learn to ski for this movie,’ and I said ‘But, I’m black,” Robinson said. “Looking back, it was amazing because now I really enjoy skiing.”
Duke said he didn’t enjoy learning to snowboard as much.
“I’m still not crazy about any activity that requires eight hours of travel and two hours of preparation and then two minutes down the hill,” Duke said.
Robinson, whose character Nick gets an opportunity to make up for his once-failed concert performance in “HTTM,” said he enjoyed getting to play music.
“[The producers] actually came to my show and saw me play with my band, The Nasty Delicious,” Robinson said. “They changed the script and allowed me to get up on stage and have some fun doing my thing. It was real cool.”
While most time-traveling movies focus on the complexities of time travel, the cast of “HTTM” said it was easier to just ignore any potential plot holes related to going back and forth through time.
“The real moral of the film is all you ever need to be happy is money,” Robinson said.
Cast view varied.
“It’s not a message picture,” Corddry said.
Contact CU Independent Entertainment Editor Sebastian Murdock at Sebastian.murdock@colorado.edu
