CAMP MOVIES WE LOVE
At least for the Ramah Bloggerette, there are certain movies whose themes, characters and situations evoke the themes, characters and situations that we experienced (or wish we had experienced) at Camp. Here are some favorites: make sure to weigh in with your opinions and additions to the list.
We'll see you in the Mo for this Ramovie Ramah-rathon:
Indian Summer (1993)
Bloggerette's favorite, which she thinks most closely resembles the activities and personalities of Camp. The story of a camp director (Alan Arkin) who invites some of his favorite campers back for a week of Camp-style relaxation. Elizabeth McGovern's sarcastic and spunky, Bill Paxton's irreverent and incorrigible, Diane Lane is luminous, as usual, and Kevin Pollak's hilarious. (The Ramah Bloggerette wishes she had gone to camp with Kevin Pollak. And that they were married. But that's another post.)
Camp (2003)
A touching and hilarious summer at a performing arts camp. This is what Camp would look like if every day were Yom Machazeh (the day when you rehearse the play ALL DAY until that evening's performance) and every peulah (activity) was drama. Starring a cast of extremely talented unknowns. Bloggerette's favorite scene (don't worry, this doesn't spoil it): the debate over ethnic casting.
Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
Counselors try not to work too hard as they provide minimal care for their charges and frolic in the heat of summer. Not that Ramah counselors would know about frolicking and shirking responsibility. Never. Celebrity counselors include Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce and Paul Rudd.
Little Darlings (1980)
Tatum O'Neal. Kristy MacNichol. Matt Dillon. Add the plot of "Losin' It" and you've got Little Darlings. Look for a blonde, extremely young Cynthia Nixon in a supporting role. And maybe someone can explain why all the campers in the same bunk seem to be different ages.
Meatballs (1979)
Bill Murray. That's all the information the Bloggerette has. Which is good, because that's all the information you need.
What are your favorites and why?
We'll see you in the Mo for this Ramovie Ramah-rathon:
Indian Summer (1993)
Bloggerette's favorite, which she thinks most closely resembles the activities and personalities of Camp. The story of a camp director (Alan Arkin) who invites some of his favorite campers back for a week of Camp-style relaxation. Elizabeth McGovern's sarcastic and spunky, Bill Paxton's irreverent and incorrigible, Diane Lane is luminous, as usual, and Kevin Pollak's hilarious. (The Ramah Bloggerette wishes she had gone to camp with Kevin Pollak. And that they were married. But that's another post.)
Camp (2003)
A touching and hilarious summer at a performing arts camp. This is what Camp would look like if every day were Yom Machazeh (the day when you rehearse the play ALL DAY until that evening's performance) and every peulah (activity) was drama. Starring a cast of extremely talented unknowns. Bloggerette's favorite scene (don't worry, this doesn't spoil it): the debate over ethnic casting.
Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
Counselors try not to work too hard as they provide minimal care for their charges and frolic in the heat of summer. Not that Ramah counselors would know about frolicking and shirking responsibility. Never. Celebrity counselors include Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce and Paul Rudd.
Little Darlings (1980)
Tatum O'Neal. Kristy MacNichol. Matt Dillon. Add the plot of "Losin' It" and you've got Little Darlings. Look for a blonde, extremely young Cynthia Nixon in a supporting role. And maybe someone can explain why all the campers in the same bunk seem to be different ages.
Meatballs (1979)
Bill Murray. That's all the information the Bloggerette has. Which is good, because that's all the information you need.
What are your favorites and why?
posted by Esther Kustanowitz at
4:53 PM
4 Comments:
OK - this is a well worn debate I have had with several Ramah people, most notably (and disappointingly), Avi Deener & Jessica Yood. Straight to the bottom line:
Wet Hot American Summer...not a good movie. Not a funny movie. Not even a cute movie.
I know we all loved camp and so there is a lot of potential payoff from movies that tap into this affinity even a little bit, but come on guys.
Im a bigger sucker for those teeny-bopper coming-of-age movies than just about anyone (insert Liron as a camper joke here) but really...this movie is just dumb dumb dumb. Every obviouus, unfunny, hackneyed joke in the book.
Believe me when I tell you that Ive had campers (most notably Marc Kushner and David Yood) who came up with far far funnier stuff than this on a regular basis when they were only 14 years old.
Apologies for going off like this on the Blog on my first visit, but I just get so darn ticked off when people hold this movie up as an example of a cute or funny camp movie.
And dont even get me started on the "its so fun to watch this movie because all the characters are exactly like people from Ramah and its fun to shout out who each character reminds you of" bit. These characters are not like anyone who went to camp with us, admit it.
Wheeew. With that off my chest I can go on with my day. Hope to see you guys on Labor Day - it'll be awesome we can sit around and learn astronomy and do all sorts of crazy, whacky things - just like in the old days.
(By the way Esther, I didnt have the patience to create a log in at this time so I posted anonymously...its me, Liron).
By
Anonymous, at 12:35 PM
Liron, Jon--thanks for posting!
Liron, I didn't mean to imply that WHAS was just like camp. But I do think there are enough moments that resonate to merit its inclusion on this list. Just my two cents.
By
Esther Kustanowitz, at 4:30 PM
Honestly Liron, if you are going to pick any movie on that list to criticize it should be CAMP. It is terrible with horrendous acting (sorry Esther!).
We've had this debate before about Wet Hot American Summer, a classic. I just bought the DVD. Yes, Pat & Celeste on "Attitudes" via Marc and David was some funny shit - but so is going out with someone for one day, loving the way your girlfriend is late for davening, a camp director who doesn't know a 5 time returning camper's name etc. This last one should especially ring true for you--I'm thinking of a one visiting day when you ran into one of your former campers wearing a "camp=suicide" t-shirt or something and couldn't remember his name. Not to mention that Yehuda stars in the film.
By
Anonymous, at 12:49 AM
little darlings hands down, how hard it to keep your hair like that in humidity.
By
Anonymous, at 2:32 AM
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