Review of Wet Hot American Summer (2001) by Joseph S — 26 Jun 2008

This movie doesn't need much support or discussion, with comedies either you laugh or you don't. Even during those scenes where I wasn't laughing I was at least smiling as the absurd antics of camp Firewood, become more and more irreverant.

Ive seen alot of mixed reactions to people Ive shown this film too, Ive had girlfreinds whove hated and loved it, family and freinds whove alternately thanked me or asked me why I was into "shit like this", and once had it playing in the background on a tv during a party, until nearly the whole room was gathered round to watch all laughing in unison, so it's hard to gauge because there's no single predictable brand of humor hear.

Like "Airplane" and "The Naked Gun", this film is foaming at the mouth with absurd slapstick gags and non-sequiters. However the humor is remarkably sharp, hip, when not being completely off the wall.

Micheal Showalter and co., who would go on to make the more subdued yet still very funny, "The Baxter", which parodies the Romantic Comedy the way this film parodies the summer camp comedy. Whether it's the gay or refregerator sex scenes, the copious drug binge which inexplicably lasts an hour, or campers bieng left in the wilds to cover up the negligent drowing death of yet other campers, to the talent show, or the meteor that is going to crash there and destroy them all, there's something here to offend and delight just about anyone.

This is not a film that laughs with the characters it laughs at them and at itself openly, and if you can get "in" on the joke, it's as good as a beer around a warm campfire on a summer night.