Review of Wet Hot American Summer (2001) by Jonalyn B — 21 Dec 2015

Wet Hot American Summer is a crazy, slapstick cult classic, and it's really hit and miss. David Wain's style of goofy sketch comedy isn't for everyone, and for the most part I'm a fan of his movies. This one, however, I am really torn on.

There are some really funny gags in this movie, and moments where it's comedic charm really shines. But for every joke that hits, there are three that fall flat, and the main problem of Wet Hot American Summer is how crazy uneven it is. It's a mess. However, I struggle to just write it off as a stupid comedy, because the moments that do work work really well. The scenes with David Hyde Pierce and Janeane Garofalo are hilarious, and the story with Michael Showalter and Marguerite Moreau works really well and has a perfect payoff. And the standout is Christopher Meloni, who has some serious comedic chops. What doesn't work is Paul Rudd's character, which I thought was just unnecessary, and the subplot with Bradley Cooper felt out of place with the film's slapstick edge - it seemed to be giving the movie some heart, but then it didn't go anywhere, and it just kinda disrupted the tone. Wet Hot American Summer isn't for everyone - it's parodic tone is misguided at times and it is really uneven as a comedy. That being said, I can see the certain messy charm it has to warrant its status as a cult classic.