Hot Tub Time Machine 2
Reviewed by Dan Hudak as a sequel that misreads what made the original work, leaning on recycled gags and lazy plotting where fresh ideas should be.
Why Some Movies Earn a "Do Not Bother"
The reviews collected below lay out the case for skipping these pictures. Each one explains what fell short on screen, so you can decide whether the warning fits your taste — or save your ticket money for something better.
Time Out of Mind
Judged as a well-intentioned but punishing look at homelessness, with pacing and structure that keep the audience at arm's length from the subject.
More from the Avoid List
Additional titles sit in the full Avoid archive. Skim the running list before you head to the multiplex — the posts above are just the highlights.
Looking back through earlier warnings? Head to the Reviews page for the full rating map: Must See, Maybe, Avoid, and the Archive.
Every movie lover knows the feeling of walking out of a theater wondering where the time went. The Avoid section exists to help you dodge that disappointment. These are films where the story never quite clicks, where characters act in ways that feel written rather than lived, or where a promising setup dissolves into lazy plotting. Sometimes a talented cast gets stranded in a script that forgets what made the premise interesting in the first place. Other times a sequel misunderstands the charm of its predecessor, trading originality for tired jokes and recycled beats. The goal here is simple: save your evening for something that respects your attention.
A bad movie rarely fails in just one area. Often the trouble starts with a script that leans on convenience rather than craft, pushing characters into decisions that serve the plot instead of their own logic. The pacing might drag in stretches where nothing meaningful happens, or rush through moments that deserve room to breathe. Comedy falls flat when jokes rely on shock instead of wit, and drama loses its power when emotional beats feel unearned. Even strong performances can't rescue a film when the foundation is shaky. These reviews spell out exactly where things went wrong, so you can spot the warning signs before you buy a ticket.
Not every movie that misses the mark is without ambition. Some take on difficult subjects with genuine heart but stumble in their execution, leaving audiences with a well-intentioned mess rather than a meaningful experience. Others chase a tone they never quite catch, bouncing between comedy and drama without landing in either space. The best reviews in this section don't just tell you to skip a film—they explain what the movie was reaching for and where it fell short. That way, even a passable recommendation carries insight. If a film sounds like your taste despite the warning, you can still take the chance with your eyes open. Knowledge is the best tool for choosing what to watch next.