Camp (2003)

Good concept, poorly executed.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The first must-see film of the year.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

I think this movie should've had a soundtrack album because the music was absolutely well done on this. The actress who played Fee had a killer voice among the rest of them. However I didn't think the storyline blend in much, I thought it was lousy to be honest. OK the character Vlad seemed like he thought he has his love life under control but what he doesn't realise, he has three girls and a guy that are head over heels for them. What does he do? He got too involved with the girls and flirted too much to poor Michael who is being bullied at school because of his sexuality. Vlad really is a silly boy. He should've gave the dating life a rest and go for Michael. He did seem like he liked him a lot but he didn't show emotion!The ones that wrote this should've rewroted a bit on the film as some of the scenes didn't make no sense. I would rather listen to the music then seeing the whole movie which I unfortunately did!

I remember first viewing this movie when it was playing on TV, when I was 11 or 12 years old, and loving the film at the time. Cut to present day, I bought the DVD and decided to watch it again. Such a pleasant and energetic experience.The story may be loose, but the young and attractive cast pull it together. Most of the actors were first-timers and they do a wonderful job. The music is incredible and catchy, its explosive soundtrack is amazing. Sure, the acting is sometimes over-the-top but the movie never gets dull or boring. As a whole, it has a lot of heart and anyone who was a teenager can relate to the characters easily. I remember having overnight camps events for youth group (more dances, less music) but it was eerily similar to the experiences and situations in this film.It's a shame not a lot of people saw this. Not even the most well-known critics reviewed it! If you hate musicals or teen dramas, you're NOT going to like this movie at all. However, if you like teen dramas with music and a lot of heart, then this is the movie for you!

first saw CAMP at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's annual New Directors/New Films series in the spring of 2003. The audience responded to the film with such gleeful laughter and riotous applause throughout the film that one couldn't help walk away from the experience entertained. Even watching it alone in the comfort of my own home this past Saturday on Reel 13, the movie managed to illicit consistent smiles. In spite of its contrivances and amateurishness, CAMP remains an extremely pleasant experience.CAMP is less a story about teens coming-of-age and coming to terms with their extreme talent and how that can make them outcasts in the world of high school than it is a paean to musical theater, though not so much in the general sense. The film eschews more classical musical theater in favor of the genre's more recent history – 60's and 70's fare like "Company", "Promises, Promises", et al. The film actually seems to prioritize the musical numbers over the character development, especially given that the cast of kids are more singers than they are actors. Only Anna Kendrick in a supporting role is able to accomplish both deftly, creating an extremely memorable character and also belting out one of the highlight songs (Fittingly, she is the only one of the cast members to have had any sort of movie career post-CAMP, earning a Spirit Award nomination last year for her work in the high-school debating comedy ROCKET SCIENCE). In CAMP, one seems to look forward to the musical numbers, more so than in most musicals, as the scenes and story don't have nearly as much to offer.This is not really a criticism because the film really doesn't make you wait long in between numbers. It moves crisply from song to song, usually with only a brief character scene or two in between. Somewhere along the line, actor-turned-director Todd Graff wisely recognized what the strength of the film was and shifted gears towards it. CAMP may not be deep, but it is a helluva lot of fun, offering magic for anyone who's ever been an artist and possibly even for everyone else too.For more on this film or any other Reel 13 film, check out their website at www.reel13.org.

SPOILERS EVERYWHERE!!! The most amazing thing about this film is that Steven Sondheim actually agreed to play himself in it. You'd think he had better taste.Camp is really one of the most unprofessional films I have seen in a long time (except perhaps for the musicians).First of all, the sets look like they were made on the lowest of budgets.Second, it was totally clichéd and you could figure out where it was going looooong before it got there. There was almost nothing in it that was original...we have seen it all before and much better done.Third... it is an insult to our intelligence. Three gay guys and a straight share the same bunkhouse and the straight doesn't feel even a little uncomfortable? At almost the end of the film the straight guy takes off his shirt and the gay guy gets all hot and bothered...ummmm...if they share the same bunkhouse, wouldn't he have already seen it weeks ago? The rich beautiful girl just drops her bags and the other girl picks them up and becomes her slave? Pul-leeze! Also, how does she end up getting a bunkhouse with a bed that looks like it should have been Mae West's? How come she isn't sharing a bunkhouse like all the other girls? The acting was pretty low par...I barely believed any of them except maybe the black kid who complained about playing white parts in the plays...But then again, I guess it is hard to make cardboard characters come to life, so I guess it isn't the kids' fault if the acting comes across as less than acceptable.Need I go on? This whole thing comes across as a TV sitcom that would have been acceptable in the 1950's but would have been considered as not sophisticated enough for a ten year old by today's standards.Oh, and, for a film that is supposed to be gay positive, how come the main character is the only straight boy in the entire movie? We see three girls and one gay boy all having crushes on Mr Hetero... but none of the gay boys gets a chance to have a boyfriend. Why not? It would have livened things up a bit to have at least an attempt at equality. Or aren't gay romances (that aren't doomed) acceptable for the straight market?