Way, way back in 2001, the guys from the MTV sketch comedy show The State released the cult classic Wet Hot American Summer. The summer camp movie satire barely hit theatres and was a critical flop. The late, great Roger Ebert himself gave it a scathing review with a lowly one-star rating. (Ebert also gave one-star ratings to some other surprises, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Blue Velvet and my holiday favorite Scrooged.) Only one critic, Entertainment Weekly’s Owen Gleiberman, seemed to get it and love it. I stood on the side of Gleiberman.
Living in Los Angeles at the time, I spotted it at a local Hollywood Video, never knowing of its existence prior, somehow completely missing it at the theater. (Los Angeles being one of 30 cities in which it was released.) Being a fan of The State, and of other cast members shown on the VHS cover, especially Janeane Garofalo, I grabbed it and watched it. Then watched it again. And again. Never once got sick of hearing Jefferson Starship’s Jane, which impeccably opens and sets the tone for the film. Thanks to the Camp Firewood and Netflix gods, an 8-episode prequel Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp has been made and released today, July 31, for our streaming pleasure.
The original film took place on the last day of camp. Camp Firewood is almost destroyed due to a piece of NASA’s Skylab falling to earth. There’s tons of gum chewing and even more making out. A hot sex scene in a sports equipment shed features Michael Ian Black and Bradley Cooper, at that point an unknown actor making his feature film debut. Michael Showalter’s character Coop tries to find love with Katie, Marguerite Moreau, but looses to the cool and extremely apathetic Andy, played to perfection by Paul Rudd. We saw Christopher Meloni, as camp cook Gene, deal with PTSD while humping a fridge; Amy Poehler and Cooper run one hell of a talent show; Judah Friedlander tries to win back Molly Shannon’s love; Elizabeth Banks gets dumped by Rudd for smelling like a burger, and Ken Marino crashes his van while smoothly singing “Danny’s Song” by Loggins and Messina.
Wet Hot was David Wain’s directorial feature debut and first feature screenplay, which he co-wrote with Showalter. (They have since collaborated on the rom-com spoof They Came Together and Wain has directed the hits Role Models and Wanderlust. All three star Rudd.)
First Day of Camp starts off two months earlier, when the counselors, staff, campers and astrophysicist neighbor David Hyde Pierce first arrive. The entire original adult cast has returned, plus some newbies including Jon Hamm, Jason Schwartzman and Kristen Wiig. After almost 15 years, the film has gotten quite a cult following, the cast some Oscar nods, and some major box-office stars have blossomed. And by just a quick internet glance, it seems like critics are liking, maybe even loving, and actually getting it this time around. Maybe they didn’t get the Ruth Buzzi jokes at first. Maybe they’ve smartened up a little. Or maybe Gleiberman, myself and the rest of the original fans were just ahead of our time. Now excuse me while I go fondle my sweater.
This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 5, 2015.