Summer Camp movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Summer Camp

This coming-of-age/nostalgic friendship movie is now playing in select theaters, as well as on Amazon Prime and Fandango at Home.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 35 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: C

IN A NUTSHELL:

The story is about Nora, Ginny, and Mary who were best friends when they were kids who met at summer camp. After losing touch with each other for decades, they seized the opportunity to get back together again at a summer camp reunion.

The cute comedy was written and directed by Castille Landon.

THINGS I LIKED:

The three leading ladies are award-winning actresses: Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Diane Keaton.
The rest of the cast does a great job and includes Beverly D’Angelo, Dennis Haysbert, Josh Peck, Nicole Richie, Maria Howell, and Victoria Rowell.
I almost didn’t recognize Dennis Haysbert without his signature glasses. So many people on social media have been commenting about how handsome he looked in this as the heartthrob.
Betsy Sodaro made me laugh every time she was on screen.
Keep watching during the final rolling credits for some amusing outtakes. They’re actually some of the funniest moments of the whole movie.
The movie was filmed at Camp Pinnacle in Hendersonville, North Carolina, which was also used in the Disney movie Heavyweights. My mother was born in Hendersonville, North Carolina!

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The writing is not good enough for these Academy Award and Emmy winners. They deserve much better than this.
There is some humor but not all of it lands.
Diane Keaton still looks amazing, but plays the exact same character she always does, wearing the exact same Annie Hall clothes she always does. It’s SUMMER camp and she’s still wearing turtlenecks, scarves, and jackets. She even wears a turtleneck with her pajamas. Her character is supposed to be a powerful CEO, yet she is super ditzy.
Instead of celebrating retirement for these older characters, the script falls all over itself bragging about how accomplished and important they still are as if agism in the workplace didn’t currently exist.
So many cliched moments.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Some profanity, including 1 F-bomb
We see some blood when someone gets hit in the stomach by an arrow
Talk of menstruation
There’s a reference to a lesbian interest.
One of the women gifts the others with vibrators.
Alcohol
Bullying

THEMES:

Aging
Friendships
Living life
Competition
Fear
Moving forward in life
Getting out of your comfort zone

FUNNY LINES:

“Come on, Nora. Help us kidnap you.” – Ginny Moon (Kathy Bates)
“I don’t bully; I persuade.” – Ginny Moon (Kathy Bates)
“Two peas in a celibate pod.” – Ginny Moon (Kathy Bates)
“I never liked him. He’s cute though.” – Nora (Diane Keaton)
“I think you should give yourselves a big round of applause for making it 7 days in bunk beds.” – Ginny Moon (Kathy Bates)
“He thinks I’m very memable.” – Ginny Moon (Kathy Bates)

INTERESTING LINES:

“We never really fit in until we found each other.” – Ginny Moon (Kathy Bates)
“We’re not here for connection (wi-fi); we’re here for reconnection!” – Ginny Moon (Kathy Bates)
“I chose to stay single. Don’t get me wrong: I love men, but I love my independence.” – Ginny Moon (Kathy Bates)
“It’s more important being together than having your shxx together.” – Ginny Moon (Kathy Bates)
“When you’re vulnerable, it’s inspiring!” – Nora (Diane Keaton)