Theater Camp

Theater Camp is a great mockumentary that's constantly mining cringe for solid laughs. It's got just as much gleeful cynicism as it does real heart for a winning combination. Obviously it'll work better for theatre people but that doesn't mean it's even remotely inaccessible to anyone who isn't.

All the adults here get to show off their genuine love of performance whilst also sending themselves up in terrific fashion. While they're doing that the film offers a showcase for an immensely talented set of child actors who are all impressive performers with some superb comedic timing.

As directors, Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman use the mockumentary techniques pretty effectively, when it actually remembers it's a mockumentary. All the intertitles add so much, it's the ideal run time and it culminates in the performance of Joan, Still which gets some of the best laughs before culminating in a wonderfully heartfelt moment.

Many people love live theater. Even so, as non-actors, singers, or dancers themselves, many admire the finished product only, without considering all the hard work that goes into productions. My daughter and niece were theater kids growing up, so I get the "that was my life" connection, maybe more than most.

This movie will resonate with some people, but for many it will miss the mark. Sadly, it's a sweetly intended, behind-the-scenes, mockumentary style look at a world that not everyone can relate to, or will be interested in. I appreciate the efforts by the kids, but thought the story was a bit lacking, and the characters a little stereotypically overdone. That said, it's not a bad film, just not what I was expecting or hoping for.

"You need to know that only 3% of people make it. The rest end up in a mental facility - or a Go Go box in Hell's Kitchen." A well-meaning camp counselor from Theater Camp

Theater Camp, like any camp experience, begins with an explosion of enthusiasm and angst as aspiring thespians and sometimes competent counselors prepare to field a musical called "Still Joan."

Joan (Amy Sedaris) is founder of AdirondACTS, a camp for both counselors and students, whose motives are honest and talents frequently not evident. Her coma is explained as "the first Bye Bye Birdie-related injury in the history of Passaic County." As if everyone's ability is questionable, the camp is endangered from takeover on the outside by snooty nearby Camp Lakeside. Creativity emerges despite serious thespian and administrative limitations.

Part of the film's salvation is Ben Platt, co-star and co-writer of this uneven mockumentary. Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman direct while they share writing with Noah Galvin (like Gordon, he's a veteran of Booksmart). The total contribution of those like-minded artists helps Theater Camp be just shy of snarky but subtly tongue-in-cheek throughout.

Indicative of the dual character of the film is that early on, the voiceover narration, a usual mainstay of documentaries, vanishes. Remaining, however, is the over-the-top enthusiasm for the future dramatis personae, otherwise known as having "theater-kid" syndrome. Enthusiasm abounds, success not probable. Yet, the mockumentary weakly takes off because it's the counselors who are incompetent, therefor mockable, and the kids, well, plain ambitious and well meaning, therefore less mockable.

When Joan has a stroke from strobe lights, her selfie-stick brandishing son Troy (Jimmy Tatro) takes a dicey leadership of the struggling camp. While he is humorously inept, Gordon and Platt as Rebecca-Diane and Amos are way too zealous former thespians obsessed about teaching and specifically writing and directing this year's original musical, Joan, Still.

The real stars are the campers from Alan Kim (Minari), who acts like an agent in training to Kyndra Sanchez (The Babysitter's Club), who plays a professional star good enough to make Amos jealous. Although you'll catch the similarities with Waiting for Guffman and Wet Hot Summer, the rousing, Broadway-like ending will convince you the wait for the on-screen ending and the fate of the camp were worth waiting for.

As this is summer, Theater Camp is a right antidote for the explosive Indiana Jones and Mission Impossible spectacles. If the memorable Oppenheimer or opulent Barbie are too demanding for you, the light-hearted, well-meaning Theater Camp may be just your ticket.

I loved this movie! I went to a Mystery Movie Night to see it, and most people around me were enjoying it- so I'm not sure why it's getting so much negativity. I laughed and laughed! It was wonderful to see true representation of theater kids and the glories and dysfunctions of this kind of group. I think a lot of people giving negative reviews do not know or appreciate the joy and diversity included in this most glorious group of humanity! I laughed, rolled my eyes, winced, and even cried. It is obviously for a niche group- but if you love theater or musicals, this movie is for you! It would be a great outing for a drama club to enjoy it and laugh together.

Joan Rubinsky is the co-founder of a theater camp and during one of the show, she has a seizure which puts her in a coma. Her son Troy takes over the camp and finds it hard to belong there as bonding with the staff as well as the kids turns out to be a real challenge. They prepare to perform a new musical based on the life of Joan while Troy struggles to raise enough money to save the place. The sub-plot also involves the two teachers Amos and Rebecca, who are behind the musical and their career differences take a toll on their relationship. Despite all the odds, how the kids end up performing the show and will Troy be able to save the place forms rest of the story.

Initially I did find it hard to get on board with the narrative with it entirely being the off screen life of these kids as well as the camp runners, basically life of theater artists and their antics. But I got used to it on time enough to buy into the narrative. Sure, the writing felt superficial as the financial concern and how it was dealt it was downplayed along with the subplots involving the staffers, where their issues were resolved too easily. But the entire third act and the musical play itself worked it's charm. Overall, it was definitely a decent watch.