rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 2001
Directed by David Wain; produced by Howard Bernstein; written by Michael Showalter, David Wain
Starring Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Showalter, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks
Here is a film that knows how stupid it is. In fact, it gets smiles from stretching the jokes so long it gets funny, no... amusing again. I never really liked 'Wet Hot American Summer', and I really didn't care for it, but I found myself smiling too many for this kind of stuff. I guess I have to add another star to the half one I originally wanted to give it.
Many actors appearing in this film are known, at least by their faces. At first I could not believe they would sign up for a film like this, but slowly I started to understand the fun many of them must have had. The humor is childish and seems to be perfect for horny teenagers, but from time to time the film does something against all expectations. Misleading an audience - even though the joke grows tired near the end - takes some kind of knowledge about the genre you are playing in, which is comedy of course.
The story, showing one day at summer camp, could have been trimmed to around thirty minutes and most of the working gags would still be in it. On the other hand, these kind of films are made for select audiences and you know up front whether you are part of that group. If not, you might like thirty minutes or less, which is too little for a film three time that length. If so, 'Wet Hot American Summer' will actually surprise you from time to time.