Is Hot Dog…The Movie Treasure or Trash?

Blu-ray Distributed By Synapse / February 25, 2020

Harkin Banks (Patrick Houser) is an American hot-dogger who enters a winter skiing competition and goes pole-to-pole with Rudi (John Patrick Reger), an arrogant Austrian pro who will do anything to win! As Harkin’s “Rat Pack” and Rudi’s “Rudettes” battle on and off the slopes, Rudi’s ultra-sexy ex-girlfriend (Shannon Tweed, Playboy’s 1982 Playmate of the Year) sets her sights on Harkin with a few “pointers” of her own. Culminating in a final and dangerous “Chinese Downhill” race, only one will be victorious!

See and hear Hot Dog…The Movie the way it was always meant to be in this “Unrated Producer’s Cut” of the iconic ‘80s T&A ski-comedy classic! Remastered in 4K from the uncut 35mm camera negative and remixed in 5.1 surround sound, this is writer/co-producer Mike Marvin’s original version of the film containing additional nudity, sex and restored scenes not included in the 1984 theatrical release. Also stars David Naughton (An American Werewolf in London) and James Saito (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).

Jamie’s Take  (3.5 / 5)

This review will be biased as I have very fond memories of seeing Hot Dog…The Movie at my buddy Kent’s house in a sleepover back in the mid 80’s. Kent was my hook up – he could rent R rated films and every sex comedy was pretty much viewed at his home: Revenge of the Nerds, the Porky’s Trilogy, My Tutor, Private School, and of course Hot Dog. Re-watching this movie brought me back to the time of weekend sleepovers, when life was carefree and the only thing that mattered was simply to have fun. With my rose colored glasses firmly on, I cannot help but like this movie despite its flaws.

Patrick Houser (Weekend Pass) plays Harkin, a naive young man who is traveling to a skiing competition to compete against international skiers from around the world. Harkin picks up spunky hitchhiker Sunny (Tracy Smith from Bachelor Party) who tags along for the ride and quickly falls for this nice guy who happens to be different from other men she’s been with.

Harkin immediately clashes with Rudi, an Austrian skier who leads a group of Austrian skiers named The Rudettes who battle another competing team named The Rat Pack, lead up team leader Dan who is played by David Naughton. Dan and his team may be great skiers but their goal is really to drink, get laid, and have a good time. And that, my friend’s, is pretty much what Hot Dog…The Movie was about. The plot is so simplistic and cliched but that doesn’t matter. The movie’s main goal is to make you laugh / smile with dumb sex jokes, nudity, and debauchery that existed back in the greatest decade known to man.

Hot Dog is a product of its time. Harkin would now be considered an asshole for cheating on Sunny with Sylvia (Shannon Tweed, Playboy Playmate and Mrs. Gene Simmons) even though they had gotten in a previous argument. One of the characters watches a girl pass out from drinking and says to his friends, “Now that’s a girl I can take advantage of.” One skier gets in a ski lift where a gorgeous woman follows him on and without saying a word, goes down on him as the other skiers applaud. Oh, and this wouldn’t be an 80’s film without an Asian guy talking dirty in his language with the subtitles at the bottom of the screen. I don’t know why but this dumb gag makes me laugh every fucking time. Juvenile? Sure, I guess. Ridiculous? Yeah, maybe. Un-realistic? Perhaps.

The #metoo crowd will not like Hot Dog. Uptight millennials probably won’t like it or even get some of the jokes. This is a movie for us 35-55 year olds who grew up on 80’s T&A comedies. It’s sophomoronic humor all the way and yet, it’s very proud to be so. Hot Dog doesn’t try to be anything else and isn’t ashamed for what it is. Now if that isn’t a great message to display for our young generation than I don’t know what is. 

The film isn’t without flaws though as the movie does get bogged down with the Chinese Downhill race and has a few too many moments of our characters skiing. While the skiing sequences are impressive (praise all stuntmen and fuck you green screen/CGI) there is just too much of it. I could have used more humor and insanity. I’d rather have the film focus more on Dan who is basically the 80’s “party guy” hero, the Mahoney character of the movie (Police Academy fans out there?). Patrick Houser who plays Harkin is also not a very good actor and his character is just too boring and bland. Anytime Naughton is on screen, that is when Hot Dog shines (except of course when we get to see luscious boobers and thick female hay).

For the first time ever, we get to see Hot Dog…The Movie as the producer Mike Marvin intended it to be shown. Marvin also wrote the film and directed the skiing sequences. Not quite happy with the original version, Marvin went back and added…nudity. This man wanted more tits! No one does that! Mike Marvin fucking rules and if anyone ever sees this man, shake his hand and tell him that’s from Jamie Klein. Yes, my 80’s nerds, this version has more fiery biscuits on display thus making this version of Hot Dog…The Movie a much superior version. He also added back my favorite line in the film – the villain threatening Harkin that they will meet again in Hot Dog 2. Break that fourth wall!

I have seen Hot Dog…The Movie on VHS and DVD and now, on blu ray, it has never looked this clear. With the majority of the film shot in the outdoors and in daylight, Synapse’s transfer is just as gorgeous as all the naked flesh that gets displayed in Hot Dog. The 50 minute documentary is also a must watch as the film interviews director Marvin, Naughton, Smith, director Peter Markle and other cast and crew who honestly talk about the troubled production and some of the issues they faced in post production as well. What makes this blu ray even special are liner notes added by author Mike McPadden. I miss this added bonus in DVD’s and blu ray’s and it is nice to see that added again. This is something you don’t get when streaming a movie.

While it’s nowhere near as funny or clever as say Caddyshack or Animal House, Hot Dog…The Movie is a fun nostalgic ride. It’s carefree and fun, a product of the times. Watching it again was a trip down memory lane. And that lane was filled with good memories and mammaries. To sum up Hot Dog…The Movie I am reminded of the line Daniel LaRusso said in The Karate Kid: “Hey, it’s the 80’s!”

This review is dedicated to all my Webster, NY friends, past and present.

Hidden Treasure/Dumpster Fire?

Jamie says: Hidden Treasure!

Jamie's Take:	(3.5 / 5)
Blu-ray Extras:	(4.0 / 5)
Average:	(3.8 / 5)

Special Features:

• New 4K restoration of the producer’s uncut version from the recently discovered original 35mm camera negative
• New DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound mix (Original 2.0 theatrical mono mix also included)
• HOT DOG: THE DOCUMENTARY – An all-new 50 minute featurette including new interviews with director Peter Markle, co-producer/writer Mike Marvin, and cast members David Naughton, Tracy Smith, John Patrick Reger and Frank Koppala
• Audio commentary with co-producer/writer Mike Marvin
• Original theatrical trailer, TV spot, radio spots, and music video!
• Liner notes by TEEN MOVIE HELL author, Mike McPadden
• Removable English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing