State Park (1988)

Absolutely brilliant

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

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.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

"State Park" aka "Heavy Metal Summer" (with the former title being the best pick) was a Canadian comedy I've never even heard of before and it pretty much languishes in obscurity. However I feel that's undeserved. Sure I wouldn't call it memorable, as it's framed with conventional and goofy shenanigans, but it remains a surprisingly enjoyable and unassumingly breezy time-waster for its over-flooded sub-genre. While quite minor, it does deliver on the playful goods for a teen camp outing -- stereotypical characters springing up (always got a laugh out of the two clueless blonde beef heads), loud music (with a lively soundtrack), amusing dialogue exchanges, a moral to the antics, nothing but sunny weather, picturesque wilderness scenery, frequent nudity (topless shots and bare asses), a special neat cameo appearance (Ted Nugent jamming!) and someone (who's pretty easy to guess) in a bear costume called Willy (with quite a creative mind) fighting for the good of Weewankah State Park against a corrupt businessman who wants to turn it into a pesticide factory. How can you not find something to like? The spirited performances are all quite fun led by the likes of the beautiful and bubbling trio of Kim Myers (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2), Isabelle Mejias (Meatballs III: Summer Job) and Jennifer Inch. James Wilder and Peter Virgile are likable enough in their roles. Then you got Walter Massey and Brian Dooley superbly crafting out the characters you love to hate. A token, but pleasing and odd screwball blast.

Seeing this movie really drives home the fact that the type of film making I associate with the 1980's really lasted untill the mid 90's. This is a film that relies on simple plot elements, lame jokes, some female frontal nudity and a surprise guest musician. It's not really laugh out loud funny, but some scenes should at least get you to chuckle. I don't want to disclose the name of the guest musician in the movie, but his appearance really helps to drive the film over the top. It's pretty predictable but if you're in the mood for something you don't need to even think a little bit about, rent it. Heavy Metal Summer must be the Canadian release title and State Park the American. I doubt there are any differences past the title. It's filmed in Ontario and even if you hate the movie, the scenery is nice.