I love this movie so much

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

New York junior and high school students go to a summer camp for kids interested in musical theatre. Lead actor is attractive Daniel Letterle (as Vladimir "Vlad" Baumann). With highlights and good muscle tone, Mr. Letterle arouses interest in most of the other kids. Gay is the norm at "Camp Ovation", so Letterle stands out. The unpacking of his football lets everyone know he's straight. Honest. Letterle's roommate is cross-dressing Robin De Jesus (as Michael Flores), who was rejected and beat up at his prom for showing up in drag. Lead actress is chunky but pleasant Joanna Chilcoat (as Ellen Lucas), who hopes to land a boyfriend...This stereotypical "comedy about drama" will mostly appeal to younger teenagers who enjoy high school musicals...Letterle's character is written (by director Todd Graff) with some unexpected depth; the mystery of his medication is withheld, he plays the slowly sexual teasing of his roommate perfectly, and an honest portrait of a young attention-seeking actor emerges. Other interesting stories are the "All About Eve" part played by Anne Kendrick (as Fritzi Wagner) and the washed-up musical writer Don Dixon (as Bert Hanley) drowning his career in alcohol. The show songs hit a peak with Tiffany Taylor (as Jenna Malloran), so fat her father has had her mouth wired shut, startling everyone (well, not me) by revealing a great singing voice. Who knew?****** Camp (1/21/03) Todd Graff ~ Daniel Letterle, Joanna Chilcoat, Robin de Jesus, Don Dixon

There are reasons why I have stopped watching musicals of all kinds.Perhaps it was the collective sexism that was the final straw for me.Maybe I gave up once I realized that almost inevitably some white guy was called upon to stand up to a poorer, invariably less socially privileged person of color with a Point. Maybe it was the portrayal of crazy people doing things no human member of this society would EVER in a million years be allowed to do, like screaming at kids you have stuck into a dumpster during "rehearsal" for a play you are "directing".The screenwriters cannot write women as non-victimized humans, either.Maybe it's the pure sexism of only ever portraying women as useless innocents constantly in danger from hulking men these women do not know how to defend themselves against and for whatever reason do not try.The sub-par voices coming from pretty-faced lousy singers doesn't help.This is the worst of the worst so far as that style of story goes.Inserting a transgender woman into the movie does not improve matters.Not even that obviously heartstrings-tugging move works in a show like this one. Sorry, folks, better luck next time.

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.

Gosh i love this movie! It seems i catch the best movies late at night on movie channels and it's so upsetting that these kinds of movies never get the exposure they deserve. Watching this movie just make you want to get up and jump right into the scenes and start singing. The songs and numbers were so different and interesting. Seeing this movie has had me singing the like "Hey! do you wanna come out, and play the game, it's never too late" for like a year now. Its the only line i knew and i would catch myself randomly singing it in my head when i was doing boring work or just walking around. Then last night at 3:30 or so i decided to head to bed and i flipped through the TV channels out of habit and found this movie was on again. Of course i stayed up until 5 watching it. if anyone has a chance to watch this film i strongly suggest it. Then go out, buy it, and show it to all your friends. The characters are really entertaining. Their oh so familiar teen struggle to fit in, be loves, and please everyone makes you feel part of the story. Like ... I've been there. Anyway... 2Thumbs up for this movie. I wish there were more pictures like this available on a larger scale. I'm a bit sick of watching over budgeted, under-talented, lack-luster, "Hollywood Blockbusters". Watch Camp!!