Rating: 
Summary: Pure Genius.
Review: This is easily the funniest film I have seen in the last five years. Hilarious from beginning to end.A word of warning, though. If you are over the age of about 35, you probably won't find it funny at all. I don't know why, but read mainstream media's reviews yourself. Old people don't get it. I dunno.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun but...
Review: I've always been a fan of the 'guilty pleasures' films which this film takes it's inspiration. And the first fifteen or twenty minutes of the film led me to believe that these filmmakers were on track to make a authentic and entertaining send-up of this genre. Unfortunately, I guess they couldn't resist taking the film into the broad sketch comedy territory that they're more accustomed to. The tone of the comedy is inconsistent which is too bad, because this charming cast of mostly fresh faces is really doing some nice work here. Nonetheless, there are some great laughs and fun nostalgic moments. Anyone who remembers those silly... comedies from the early eighties should enjoy this film, even with the missed opportunities.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Genre Spoof of All Time!
Review: I just came back from the first showing of "Wet Hot American Summer" in David Wain and Molly Shannon's hometown of Shaker Heights, Ohio, and here is my story. For the first time in many years, I was initially drawn to this film based on the movie poster alone. Easily the best film poster of the new millenium, it recaptures the zany cartoon-style montage virtually unused since the 70's and 80's. However, given the 45-minute drive to the only theater in Cleveland playing the picture, I decided to read a few reviews first. Absolutely no help here, as they were wildly mixed, with critics either loathing (Cleveland Plain Dealer) or loving (Entertainment Weekly) it. Being a big fan of film parodies, even some that were poorly reviewed (e.g., "Top Secret"), I gave in. The 45-minute trip turned into an hour+ voyage, as I was caught in a torrential downpour, arriving suitably "wet" for the film. Not in the best frame of mind, I thought, "David Wain had better make me laugh, or I'm walking out." Folks, this is the best genre spoof I have ever seen. It looks AND (more importantly) feels like a late 70's/early 80's picture. This is a rare achievement, as most genre comedies (e.g., "The Wedding Singer"), are much too glossy and forced to create this effect. The only films in recent years that have come close are "Dazed and Confused" and "Jackie Brown." From the hair styles (e.g., white male afro, middle parts, feathered hair), to the clothes (e.g., ragged jeans shorts with white pocket liners hanging out), to even the calculators (those that made that annoying clicking noise each time a button was pushed), every detail was impressively accurate. In addition, perhaps due to its low budget (an estimated $1 million) or perhaps the result of the director's sharp attention to detail, the soundtrack contains rarely heard 80's gems and is filmed on celluloid which creates an aged, authentic look. To further generate the spirit of the camp comedy genre (or again the result of a low budget), the stars were even asked to sleep in cabins during the shoot. The film's gags are rapid-fire. The biggest laughs (semi-spoiler alert) were drawn from the "office rampage" and the "wedding gift." "Wet Hot.." also contains the best use of hair gel since "There's Something About Mary" and has the most canned laughter since "Three's Company." For those who have seen the picture, you know precisely what I'm referring to. For the head-scratching majority, I compel you to find out. However, what makes this film even more authentically funny is its subtle 80's humor. True to form with many of the comedies it parodies, some jokes fall completely flat and various plot lines seem out of place and disjointed. Too bad most critics are not able to dig beyond the obvious, in your face jokes to realize that the "unfunny" and "confusing" moments were planted as a throwback to the 70's/80's comedy style. Well done, David Wain! Can't wait for the loaded special edition DVD...and your next picture (hopefully `Wet Hot American Summer II: Ten Years Later, at 9:30 A.M."...hehe).
Rating:
Summary: Irreverent and brilliant
Review: When I heard about a film starring Janeane Garofalo and created by a couple of brains from The State/Upright Citizens Brigade, I knew it was worth a full-price admission ticket to check it out. Boy was I right. This knowing nod to early '80s camp movies offers what so many of this summer's disappointments don't: real laughs, an engaging pace, fully-realized characters (even in their cartoonish-ness) and truly GREAT acting from every single person on screen. Citing specifics isn't necessary--every character is fun, every performance a gem. The humor is smart without being stuffy, irreverent without being mean-spirited, and kind-hearted without being cloying. Their fearless & hilarious take on a couple of taboo subjects is so refreshing--but don't get me wrong, this is no Farrelly brothers movie. It's way smarter than that, and funnier. Go see it.
Rating:
Summary: Campy Humor and raging hormones equals fun fun fun
Review: This film never stops to take itself seriously. It's humor gets to you on several levels. Some of it is very sophisticated, some of it is plain in-your-face outrageous. Great acting jobs by the stars plus great vignettes by Chris Meloni as a cook who cant forget Viet Nam and Mollie Shannon who gets counseling from one of the campers. If you are a former camper you'll recognize yourself. If you never went to camp you'll find it fall-down funny.
Rating:
Summary: love is all right tonight
Review: This is an across the board good, funny, unusual movie with several extended sequences that are drop-dead, wet-your-pants funny. The film seems like a sharp satire of early 80's teen flicks like Meatballs and Caddyshack, and it succeeds as such, but it is really much smarter and more anarchist (in a good way) than that format would seem to allow. The cast is great, without exception. Even the kids who have speaking roles are well-drawn. Christopher Meloni (from Law & Order S.V.U.) is also particularly fun. this was an excellent film in the theatre and is even better on DVD (especially if you get together a group of friends who will appreciate it). there are a ton of extras. the deleted scenes are all hilarious (tha animal house one killed me. KILLED me.), the commentary insightful and the short documentary suprisingly touching. i really can't recommend this one highly enough.
Rating:
Summary: this camp is a little bit coo-coo, if you get my drift
Review: Paul Rudd (Anchorman, The Object Of My Affections), Janeane Garafalo (Copland, Minus Man), David Hyde Pierce(Tv's Fraiser, Osmosis Jones), Michael Ian Black (Tv's Ed, Tv's Viva Variety), Amy Poehler (Tv's Upright Citizens Brigade, Tv's SNL), Christopher Meloni (Tv's Law and Order SVU, Tv's Oz), Molly Shannon (Superstar, Osmosis Jones) and Marguerite Moreau (Queen Of The Damned) head an allstar cast in this satire about life on the last day of camp. The cast do some funny things. Meloni, the camp cook, has an inspiring speech towards the end about wiping mud on his ass and humping a fridge and also when he is talking to canned goods. Pierce and Garofalo are a perfect match for each other. Michael Ian Black has never been more funnier playing a kid who is gay and gets married in the lake and Paul Rudd plays Moreau's jealous boyfriend. Though sometimes crude and tasteless jokes weigh it down, it springs back up with a lot of heart.
Rating: 
Summary: A failed attempt at humor
Review: I bought this DVD based on the reviews; unfortunately, it was a big mistake. While two of my favorite actors were in this movie, the humor failed to make me laugh. It was worse than childish and I got only a couple of chuckles from the movie. I would not watch it again and I would not recommend it to anyone. Be afraid, be very afraid---you have been warned.
Rating: 
Summary: I'd rather watch reruns of SALUTE YOUR SHORTS!!!
Review: I've noticed that all of the positive reviews here are bashing those of us who find this movie unfunny. I appreciate good, quirky humor and rented this hoping for another PORKY'S or MEATBALLS. I can't believe anyone agreed to produce this movie. Sure, it has a couple of genuinely funny scenes. However, mostly it's just a bunch of unrelated vignettes fueled by no real plot. This movie includes a man humping a refrigerator (this same man talks to a can of mixed vegetables),
a horrible "semi-spoof" of ARMAGEDDON, and pathetic attempts at satirizing 70s and 80s camp movies. The only thing going for this movie is the cast. If you're like me, you'll rent this regardless of what everyone else has to say. I just hope you find it more enjoyable than I did.
Rating:
Summary: "Meet me at the picnic table in ten seconds."
Review: This movie is hillarious! It is a farce such as the Monty Python & naked gun movies, so with the rules thrown away, you can do so much more as far as it pertains to comedy. This movie does it in a different way, its real abstract, over the top and smart humor, but it is executed in a straight faced subtle way. I laughed more and harder at this movie than I have ever done with any movie, and I push and pimp this movie on everybody. So watch it, good flippin' movie.
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