by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What is with the recent string of comedies starring old actresses? Films like Book Club dand 80 for Brady have shown that there is a market for the older female demographic when it comes to comedy and film in general. This recent trend has also given plenty of performers like Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, and many others the chance to continue getting leading roles. The vibe also seems like a lot of fun when the plot is just an excuse for talented older actresses to just hang out and go on vacation.
How does Summer Camp stand out in this new subgenre? It certainly sets up a story for a group of talented women to come together to have some fun. They were able to get Kathy Bates, Diane Keaton, and Alfre Woodard to anchor the film. These characters’ individual stories all feel familiar and been-there-done-that, but the performers’ charisma makes them stick. Bates’ Ginny is a strong and confident woman who seems to have all her stuff together as she gets an excuse to bring her old camp friends back for a reunion. Keaton’s Nora is a workaholic who could use someone in her life to give her some perspective. Luckily, she has a charming Canadian silver fox, Eugene Levy, there to help with that. Woodard’s Mary has a rocky marriage that has put her in a controlled place, and she needs time to let loose.
Does writer/director Castille Landon do right by these women’s stories in her screenplay? She does give a lot of respect to these women. While their stories are familiar, leaning into plenty of clichés, the characters are given the space to be real, and these talented actresses deliver on the authenticity. Their chemistry is also off the charts. With the usual narrative beats, each of their arcs play out exactly how you might expect… but at least there is fun to be had along the way. That is what matters most, right?
How does Landon navigate this new type of comedy? Much of her previous work was geared towards a young demographic, with sleazy types of romances, like After We Fall and such. But she leans into this subgenre of comedy well with a respectful approach to the story. But there are some elements that don’t necessarily land so well. Much of the comedy (outside of the performances) is low hanging fruit or obvious jokes. Luckily, the cast is so charming that they can make much of it work. There is one divisive character portrayed by Betsy Sodaro who can either be a chaotic bit of fun or utterly unbearable. You might have to be the judge of that. The music choices are all over the place as well. Some of the needle drops fit the age group of these friends, but others feel completely out of place. They come off as a cynical attempt at grabbing a young audience. Josh Peck portrays a charming and aloof camp employee who gets a big moment to shine later in the film… but his speech is SO on the nose that it is hard not to roll your eyes a bit.
Is Summer Camp worthy of attention of all audiences? It will certainly skew older thanks to the familiarity with the stars (who are all great). The supporting cast also does some work, with actors like Beverly D’Angelo and Dennis Haysbert. Unfortunately, the humor is not consistent enough in laughs or tone. The story has been done lots of times before (and probably better in many of those). But this is an inoffensive enough film to be a nice, easy watch at bare minimum.
Rating: It Was Just Okay
Summer Camp is currently playing in theaters
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