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That's the warm welcome that camp director Beth (Janeane Garofalo), gives to her team of counselors at Camp Firewood. A reminder that these kids suck and the counselors aren't there to help you have fun, but rather to have fun themselves; whether it is by staging elaborate theater productions, distract yourself from a failed marriage, or just try to get laid.
Wet Hot American Summer follows an assorted cast, most of which were part of The State comedy troupe. The characters include theater directors Susie and Ben (Amy Poehler and Bradley Cooper) trying to prepare the camp's talent show, camp director Beth falling in love with a neighboring astrophysics professor (David Hyde Pierce), and Coop (Showalter), a shy nerdy guy secretly in love with Katie (Marguerite Moreau), who is in turn fixated on her obnoxious and unfaithful boyfriend Andy (Paul Rudd).
With an ensemble cast that big, the film does a good job of balancing the different storylines. However, the clear scene-stealer is Rudd. His performance is so effortless and laid-back that you can't help but believe he's an a$$hole, and yet you wanna see more of him. The other thing that makes this work is the way the script and direction combines the meta aspect of parodying classic summer camp films (and teen films in general) and the absurdity of its various sketches (i.e. camp cook Gene receiving life advice from a can of mixed vegetables)
The director and writers are self-aware enough to know when to lean into the conventions of the genre and when to pull the rug and subvert the tropes. But they are also helped by a cast with great comedic timing and evident chemistry and comfortability to elevate the material. Yeah, maybe some of them are a$$holes, pretentious, douchebags, or you know "suck dick". But nevertheless, please welcome them.
Grade:
WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER
(2001, Wain)
A film with "America" in its title
(2001, Wain)
A film with "America" in its title
"Before we start, I'd just like to say the campers you're about to see suck dick! But nevertheless, please welcome them."
That's the warm welcome that camp director Beth (Janeane Garofalo), gives to her team of counselors at Camp Firewood. A reminder that these kids suck and the counselors aren't there to help you have fun, but rather to have fun themselves; whether it is by staging elaborate theater productions, distract yourself from a failed marriage, or just try to get laid.
Wet Hot American Summer follows an assorted cast, most of which were part of The State comedy troupe. The characters include theater directors Susie and Ben (Amy Poehler and Bradley Cooper) trying to prepare the camp's talent show, camp director Beth falling in love with a neighboring astrophysics professor (David Hyde Pierce), and Coop (Showalter), a shy nerdy guy secretly in love with Katie (Marguerite Moreau), who is in turn fixated on her obnoxious and unfaithful boyfriend Andy (Paul Rudd).
With an ensemble cast that big, the film does a good job of balancing the different storylines. However, the clear scene-stealer is Rudd. His performance is so effortless and laid-back that you can't help but believe he's an a$$hole, and yet you wanna see more of him. The other thing that makes this work is the way the script and direction combines the meta aspect of parodying classic summer camp films (and teen films in general) and the absurdity of its various sketches (i.e. camp cook Gene receiving life advice from a can of mixed vegetables)
The director and writers are self-aware enough to know when to lean into the conventions of the genre and when to pull the rug and subvert the tropes. But they are also helped by a cast with great comedic timing and evident chemistry and comfortability to elevate the material. Yeah, maybe some of them are a$$holes, pretentious, douchebags, or you know "suck dick". But nevertheless, please welcome them.
Grade: