Camp

Rating:
Summary: CAMP HEAVEN
Review: Anyone anywhere who has ever loved a musical, been in a musical trained to be an actor, put on a show, wanted to put on a show, or just listened to and loved a song ever in their lives will find something to relate to in this delightful movie. Campy in all the right places -- with its requisite gay subtext -- CAMP also provides the viewer with some of the biggest laughs of the year. Todd Graff's knowing sensibility has culled together a mixture of poignant and funny moments from his real-life experiences at STAGEDOOR MANOR, and found just the right cast to bring his vision to life. The musical numbers include two lovely new songs by FAME composer Michael Gore, and TURKEY LURKEY TIME, the blow-out dance feature from PROMISES PROMISES. As welcome as a fresh summer breeze.

Rating:
Summary: The fabulous feel-great film of the year!!!!
Review: It's movies like 'Camp' that remind me what I love most about movies. It doesn't preach an agenda and doesn't make me feel like a fool for feeling sentimental. It has a little bit of cynicism but a lot of great music. There are no drugs, no guns, no car chases and no fake breasts. What 'Camp' does, and does very well, is tell a story. Simply and completely. 'Camp' took me into a world I was both familiar and stranger to, and made me feel better for taking the journey. While there will be little chance the film will find the same kind of mainstream hit 'Chicago' or 'Moulin Rouge' became, 'Camp' should become a favorite with discerning movie musical fans and help re-usher in this dormant too long genre.

While summer camp often means nature trips, cookouts and wacky hijinks to most young people, Camp Ovation in upstate New York caters to those who are more artistically inclined. Over the two months campers attend, they will put on a new show every other week, be it drama, musical or something more avant-garde, going through the process of auditioning, creating their own sets and costumes, rehearsing and presenting a new show for an audience, then beginning anew the next day. Many of the kids at Camp Ovation are outsiders within their own worlds. Ellen (Joanna Chilcoat) is reduced to begging her older brother in order to have a date to her junior prom, while Michael (Robin DeJesus) gets beaten up at his prom for daring to arrive in drag. Fritzi (Anna Kendrick) is so starved for any attention, she spends her entire year waiting for camp so she can be the 'assistant' to Ovation's number one drama diva, Jill (Alana Allen). Our first clue things will be different this summer arrives in the form of Vlad (Daniel Letterle). He's cute, talented and seemingly the only straight male in the entire teenage camp populace. Ellen, Michael and Jill will all fall for Vlad, even if he has no idea who Stephen Sondheim is. Each year, Camp Ovation has one artist in residence to help run the shows and inspire the nascent talent. This year's guest director is Bert Hanley (Don Dixon), a once promising writer who had been the toast of Broadway with his first musical, but never delivered a follow-up show. The story follows these kids as they deal with each other over the course of the summer. Hearts are broken, lifelong friendships are created, and there's that one ambitious actress who makes Eve Harrington look undemonstrative.

From the opening credits, in which the company performs the rousing, gospel-esque 'How Shall I See You Through My Tears' to the end, when they dance through their own rendition of 'The Want of a Nail,' it is this group of talented youngsters who make the movie come alive. For while most of the cast are cinema neophytes, they have a warmth and energy which make them feel familiar and comfortable. The film feels almost like a documentary, for what little over-acting does appear is saved for the sequences of the stage performances. And it is these stage performances that are the best part of "Camp." These kids are simply amazing, their voices powerful and seductive!

Residing somewhere between 'Meatballs' and 'Fame,' 'Camp' is the brainchild of actor turned writer Todd Graff, who based the story on his own experiences at the Stagedoor Manor camp (where the film was shot) as a youngster in the 1970s, where he was a camper and later a counselor during his teen years.

Making his directorial debut here, Graff has assembled a first rate team around him, ensuring the film's success as a work of art. Oscar winning composer Michael Gore, Tony winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell, 'Rent' musical director Tim Weil and 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' composer and lyricist Stephen Trask have all infused their individual talents together to create an extraordinary cinematic experience. I cannot stress how incredible I think this film is. It's everything "Fame" SHOULD HAVE been. 'Camp' gets an A+ for effort and an A+ for execution. Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: Hackneyed but charming
Review: This movie is such an anomaly in today's world. Almost every frame of this movie is cliched and predictable. And yet, it has an undeniable charm that makes it absolutely irresistible, even as it is very clumsy in execution.

I was very excited about this film because I am a huge fan of musical theater, particularly Sondheim (who makes a cameo in the film!). In terms of the musical performances, I was extremely impressed--all of them are good and some of them are truly stunning. My major disappointment is that nothing was included from Follies, which would have been absolutely fabulous.

It is the energy of the performers that makes this movie. The acting, particularly by Letterle, is pretty commonplace. The script is OK, but predictable. There are some touching scenes though, particularly those involving the perpetually hung-over composer. The other character that steals the show is that short blond boy with the spiked hair who has this infectious smile (and, of course, the line "We have a SPORTS COUNSELOR?!?") But, basically, there's very little outside the musical numbers to rave about.

But what spectacular musical numbers they are! Watching "The Ladies Who Lunch" (particularly Kendrick) is spectacularly entertaining. And at its sentimental best, the movie cranks out "Here's Where I Stand", boasting yet another great performance by a young performer. This emotion is almost achieved during "Century Plant," but Letterle's bland acting half-ruins the emotion of the song.

Clearly, the director/writer has true empathy for these misfit characters at Camp Ovation. By the end of this film, I'm not sure what the director was trying to say, or if there was any particular message. But I do know that, having viewed this movie, I, just like the director, love these misfit kids, who will leave Camp Ovation to return to "normal" society where it is Eminem, not Stephen Sondheim, who reigns over the music world. It is this infectious love for these unusual teens, not the abundant cliches, that we are conscious of by the end of the movie.

Rating:
Summary: Music is what makes this movie special...
Review: Camp really isn't a great film; it is unintentionally awkward at inopportune moments in the movie. However, the one aspect of "Camp" that made it stick in my mind instead of drifting off like most movies I see do, was the music. In particular, two voices that drew me back to find about more about "Camp" were Sasha Allen and Tiffany Taylor. Allen's voice doesn't necessarily fit the atmosphere of the movie, but she is still an amazing singer and I couldn't help but take notice. Taylor's rendition of "Here's Where I Stand" made me cry for a movie for about the third time in my life because of how much emotion is put into it. Taylor exudes the personality of a quasi-diva: she knows what her voice can do, but she knows when to restrain her vocals for maximum listener emotion. I expect to see great things from these amazing young women in the future.

Rating:
Summary: Camp
Review: I rented this movie for my 17 year old who is planning a career in theatre. She is going to Stage Door Manor this summer. After viewing the movie...Boy, am I glad I chose to send her to the best camp in the USA! Some of her teenage theatre friends have seen it and loved it. They saw themselves in the characters. The movie is a reality check on the talent out there and what one faces going into this field. As a former choir/theatre student, I found "Camp" a delightful walk back to my own teen years and the ups and downs of growing up dreaming of Broadway. I loved the music. My daughter's choir teacher heard the musical numbers and was impressed with both the talent and scores. Basically, the film is for theatre students, and those adults with a passion for theatre. If you want to identify with kids whose first love is theatre and the ups and downs of being a theatre geek...This movie is for you. The film gives a glimpse into the lives of real teenagers with identity issues whose every breath is theatre. If you can't deal with gay issues, don't rent it.

Rating:
Summary: Camp is great fun...
Review: Written and directed by actor Todd Graff (most people will remember him as the rat toting rig worker in James Cameron's The Abyss), Camp is a delightful light gem of a film. It's Fame: The Next Generation, but it works because the cast is actually very talented. The late Jason Raize (who recently took his own life at the age of 28 in February 2004) -older Simba in the Broadway production of The Lion King -once said of that the role was a triple threat, for you had to beable to sing, dance and act. Here in this film, the cast has to do the same. Daniel Letterle shines as Vlad, the lone straight boy in Camp Ovation (handsome and talented, as he can sing). He's more than a pretty face, even though in reality, he was hired because he is handsome and has a body to die for. Shasha Allen as Dee and Tiffany Taylor as Joanna are brilliant finds, with voices of angels. Their preformances with chill you. Robin DeJesus displays a rare talent as a proud gay teen Michael who's only real dream is acceptence from his parents. The story is a bit cliched -even feeling at times like an old episode of Fame - and I wished almost that this could become a TV series as there are many story potentials. Things that disracted me was Don Dixon's Bert, a man who finds it difficult living in his own shadow and the Bud Miller sports director character that vanishes for no reason what so ever. I liked the film for many reasons, but mostlt for protraying gay teens in a very positive light. Even Vlad, while trying to understand Michael, seems to accept him with no issues. But over all, a fine debut for Graff and some star making performances from Allen and Taylor.

Rating:
Summary: The music is good
Review: This film was supposed to be an ensemble piece set in a sleep away musical theatre camp but the writing is so sporadic and uneven that you can identify with exaclty no one. The actors seemed to approach the material gamely enough but it is obvious that they had very little if any acting experience or training for the screen because it looks like somebody video taped a stage play ... in a high school. The main character is insipid and if he's strait, I am. The makers decided to put marginal talent in the fore while allowing greater talent to be shunted off to the back. They could have been very subversive and created quite a camp send up but the makers seemed to be playing the action strait which just perplexed me. The behind the scenes is good. It lets you see the talent of the kids who were pushed into the background and everyone is so excited and happy for the opportunity. After all this criticism I'm sure your wondering why such a high mark. It's all about the music. The numbers are great and the opening and closing made me want the soundtrack. The opening scene is so awesome that the subsequent movie is a total let down but I still liked it for what it was trying to do.

Rating:
Summary: Great singing saves this movie from a poorly written story
Review: I've always been a sucker for movies that take place during the summer season. It probably has to do with the romanticized notion that anything is possible during this limited seasonal window and that many of the stories told have to do with characters coming of age in one way or another. Some of my favorite "summer" movies include well-known crowd pleasers like "The Flamingo Kid" and "Dirty Dancing," little seen gems like "The Man In The Moon," and guilty pleasures like "Summer Lovers" and "Little Darlings." While I did not see "Camp" when it first came out, it received generally good buzz so when the DVD came out I decided to give it a shot.

While by no means a perfect movie, "Camp" is hard to resist. Its strengths lie in a certain earnestness that is missing from most movies involving teens. As fun as movies like "Heathers" can be, there is a certainly a place for movies that may not be as dark or witty as the aforementioned but go in a different direction. Although I hate to give too much away in most of my reviews, it's not too much to say that the movie takes place in a musical camp that attracts kids who don't quite fit in with whatever "normal" is. I don't know if it was due to its marketing campaign or the movie's title, but many seemed to expecting this movie to be a send up of sorts of life at an unusual camp. So if you are looking for something "campy," this is not that movie.

The Good:

The casting people chose to go with unknown singers over "actors" and it pays off beautifully as the movie has some killer songs performed with passion and it makes a strong case for following your bliss, no matter how geeky it may seem to others;

There are many funny moments that are well-earned and there are not too many cheap shots at the expense of the characters;

It tackles sexual, aesthetic, racial differences and phobias in a way that is not too heavy-handed;

The best thing that this movie has going for it is spirit. In spite of many wrong turns, the director has established a "plucky" ambiance in which you are rooting for most of these kids no matter what.

The extras: There is a "making of" segment that to me shows that this movie could have been an even better experience had it been made as a documentary. The writer/director attended the school that serves as the backdrop for the story, and he possesses an energy and likeability that may be stronger than anything captured in the film.

The Bad:

The script is weak and has structural challenges. We are introduced to many characters yet the film focuses on a charismatic character who, while vital to the story, acts in ways that make little sense because they are story-driven rather than character-driven. The script also fails to empower or even follow some of the kids that we are introduced to so only through song or dance do we get a minor glimpse into something that feels real;

There are some heavy handed storylines, one involving a teacher and alcohol, and the other involving sexual orientation that don't belong in this movie. Also, while the movie has a running joke/truism about there not being any straight guys at acting camp, it fails to depict gays as anything other than guys who want to dress like women. Even a throwaway line saying that such is the case would have made a difference, as both the questions and expositions focus on why a guy would want to dress like a girl and never on the real issue for most. Shows like "My So Called Life" have tackled both of these issues in a funnier and more realistic manner;

Although it's an ensemble piece, the story does not really allow the characters to gel collectively to show one of the reasons as to why these kids are drawn to the camp. There is a mean-spirited exchange that puts down a talented albeit overweight character, yet the writer director fails to even show her again or possibly show that she's no freakier than anyone else at camp;

There is a deleted scene involving a softball game in the DVD extras that shows the root of where this movie fails to deliver. While it is very strong in introducing us to characters and showing them performing with all of their might, the writer/director seems to want to tackle several "serious" issues, and those scenes just don't fit into the story and take away what is working. The movie would have been much better had it focused on what it feels like to be at camp and the little/big things that can happen between the performances it chronicles.

In a nutshell, I think that is this a movie that has enough merits to recommend it. Many of the musical performances in and of themselves are worth seeing it and would serve to remind some of how truly awful those kids from "American Idol" are. Nothing against those chosen for said show, but it seems to me that the decision makers are not looking in the right places. But I digress....

In a time when most movies involve things exploding and people being killed, it's nice to see a little movie that reminds us that there was a time when we had a full season to think and play without worrying about grades, jobs, interest rates and an increasingly unsafe world. This movie easily earns 3 stars if you keep expectations light.

Rating:
Summary: overwhelmingly bad film
Review: This film is badly acted, badly written and stephen sondheim made a bad decision in having anything to do with it.

Rating:
Summary: I HAVE NO WORDS
Review: While the film's cast does have fantastic vocal talent, and the song selections were great, as a film, this is the number one most retarded film I've ever seen. And while "retarded" doesn't really seem like a word efficent enough to describe a film, I feel that there is no other way. The cast of actors are so bad, that I found myself cringe-laughing through the entire film. Maybe the dialogue is partly to blame, I mean, how bad does a film have to be, if some of the longest conversations go something like this.( Girl:"What are you listening to; sounds like pretty regualar music.It doesn't sounds special at all".Boy:"Sometimes it's nice not to be special". Girl:"Jump off the roof".) And that's just me telling you; I can't decide whats worse, the lines themselves, or the absolutely atrocious manner in which the actors deliver their lines. I mean,most of the film isn't meant to be funny; and yet, I was literally wetting my pants during some of the "serious" moments.

I seriously cannot stress enough how cringingly bad this film is. When I read the reviews that were raving on about this film in a serious manner, I thought that the whole web had decided to play a personal joke on me; see that's why I give it three stars. If there was ever a movie that was so,so,so,so, And I mean sosososos bad that it was actually good in a way, then Camp is that movie.The acting is so bad, the dialogue is so cheesy, and well...bad, that you cannot help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. And the ending? My gosh, the expression on the main character's face is priceless.I seriously cannot put into any words how unbelievably stupid this film was.Now I'm going to pretend I never saw all those glowing reviews taking this film seriously.And to all you decent people-you cannot miss this film.I laughed harder than I have ever laughed in my life simply because it was so bad.Talk about an unintentional comedy.I still keep telling myself that the whole movie was a joke.