As a non theater kid most of this movie is an unfunny slog, and the decision to make it mockumentary style is bonkers as it doesn’t feel needed at all. I will say the ending show is sweet and fun and leaves the film on a high note.
I would also like to know why that child is allergic to polyester
A very funny movie, loved the mockumentary style and surprised by some risky jokes in this age.
It has a bit of a dip in the middle but the ending made me feel good, I liked it a lot overall and I can see myself rewatching this in not too long.
Listen. I loved musicals and theatre. I still love musicals and theaters. This scratched that itch. That sentimental, overwrought sense of belonging that’s not as true as it’s built up to be but that we hold onto anyway. Platt is much more bearable when playing the entitled ass we know him to be now, and Edebiri continues to steal the show. She should’ve had more, but I am always saying that. Her equal in scene stealing is Patti Harrison, who takes what could’ve been a strait laced antagonistic role and imbues it with this quirkiness and longing for connection. She’s a weirdo who’s forced herself into this business mold, and she gets laughs out of the smallest lines just by how she says it and the faces she makes.
Noah Glavin is the returning actor who plays a role most different from the one he had in the short, and who illustrates the differences between them. In here, he’s the heart of it, showcasing his range with a sad puppy energy that makes you wish the best for him. And he ties a bow on it all with a killer performance at the end, that’s not played for laughs at all and let’s him just own it. It was really refreshing in that sense. In the original short he was a selfish dance instructor who back stabbed his friend and co reached to keep his job, and here he’s the one espousing the value of this camp, this family, and saved them all.
Is the former more true to the harshness and selfishness of the business? Sure, probably, and I can get preferring the meaner, perhaps more honest edge of the original short. But this made me laugh more. Dammit, it made me cry. Could they have done a lot more with the mockumentary format, or Edebiri? Also yes. But that final song really harnessed the power of a good, sentimental finale. theater is all about getting lost in the illusion. The fact is, I had fun getting lost in this one for an hour and a half.
Theater Camp is a perfect example of a finale raising a movie by 2 points. As someone who's never stepped foot in a drama or theater camp classroom, much of the satirical goofs and gaffs for a good 70 minutes of this movie completely glanced off me and I was almost ready to call it a day. Please, please, please see this movie through to the ending. What was settling in at a personal 5/10 immediately jumps to a 7/10 with the finale performance, it is so so good. Everything wraps nicely and is as heartwarming and wholesome as can be. If you can stomach the runtime for the pay-off or have first hand experience of this kind of environment so will get a kick out of the satire, I highly recommend Theater Camp. If anything, it's proven to me to never write off a movie until the credits roll, sometimes movies will surprise you out of nothing.
The third act does a lot of the heavy lifting, but the whole movie has funny, feel-good vibes to it. The finale always makes me happy-cry, and Noah Galvin in particular is a wonder to behold. As a theater kid, this triggers a lot of nostalgia, and I think anyone who's ever worked in community theater can strongly relate to some part of this movie. To the non-theater people out there: was this as good for you as it was for us?
It was good, but I did not love it as much as I wanted. Knowing it was Molly Gordon and what I appreciate her in, I was hoping for a tone closer to Band Camp. Instead, this feels much more like it caters to the people that have gone to Theater Camp. I can see some people love this, but I am not those people. It was good, but not as much as I hoped.
Rating: 2.5/5 - 70% - Worth Watching
why did I unironically cry at the last song tho:sob:
Turns out mockumentary is not as easy as Christopher Guest makes it look! Perhaps also let down by a lack of affection for it's characters, we seem to be invited to laugh at not with them.
I was quite bored for most of it, but that ending song GOT me ::tears:: and it's a BANGER
Shout by BeaupediaBlockedParent2023-08-04T03:42:50Z
Theater kid or not, it's funny and clever and everyone in the theater laughed out loud throughout. Loved it!