Review of Camp (2003) by Rick E — 20 Mar 2004

There is a subculture that exists in the world of performing arts. A world of diversity where a person can find acceptance through the shared passion of performing. Once upon a time, I was a part of that world and the newly released DVD ?Camp? took me back to those years when I was a teen struggling to find myself by pretending to be someone else.

Written and directed by Todd Graff (The Abyss, Death To Smoochy), Camp follows several teens through a summer at Camp Ovation, a place to learn, love, and belt out show tunes to their heart?s content. Among the cast of characters is Vlad (Daniel Letterle), the heterosexual with the boy band looks that attract the attention of more than one girl. Ellen (Joanna Chilcoat) is the mousy girl who is confident on-stage and absorbed in self-doubt off. Michael (an extraordinary Robin de Jesus) is the young man struggling to come to terms with his sexual orientation and the parents who seem to have abandoned him. And, we have Jenna (Tiffany Taylor) whose parents wanted her to go to fat camp but compromised by sending her to Camp Ovation with her jaw wired shut. All of these characters could easily have become caricatures, but Graff and his team have cast unknowns in these roles and their inexperience in front of the camera throws a fresh and believable light upon the proceedings. Graff is true to the theater experience by making us feel as if we are watching a brilliantly performed high school play.

The talent in this film is phenomenal. Each of the actors sing their own numbers (the recording of which is chronicled in the bonus documentary) and the numbers have been painstakingly choreographed. The opening number, ?How Will I See Through My Tears?, is breathtaking with Sasha Allen giving a vocal performance to rival ANYone on American Idol. Tiffany Taylor?s ?Where I Stand? is a heart-wrenching plea to her insensitive father to accept her as she is. And little Kahiry Bess brings down the house with his Sauvion Glover-type tap dance routine (be sure to check out the extended version in the deleted scenes).

You don?t have to love musical theater to enjoy Camp ? there?s plenty to like about this film regardless. Camp is a solid little film that deserves a standing ovation.