19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Awakening Passions at Camp Bleeding Dove, June 22, 2002
"Happy Campers" examines a group of summer campers at Camp Bleeding Dove, somewhere near the Carolinas.
The focus of the film is found in the relationships between seven camp counselors. Wichita (played by Brad Renfro) wants to get through the summer by being practical and honest with the campers and without entanglements from the other counselors. Wendy (Dominique Swain) wants a more romantic and ideal environment, which includes having an enduring relationship with Brad. The other counselors eye each other, with a couple looking extra hard at Brad.
The kids have their traditional issues: homesickness, bee-stings, epileptic fits, crushes, ogling, lampooning the other sex, reading porn magazines, and the like.
I suppose the "R" rating comes from a few mild sex scenes, displays of condoms, and a bit of quasi-lesbian foreplay. After satirizing camp life, the immanent return to the outside world triggers some political correctness. [Though having the one gay counselor tell the possibly gay-to-be kid to wait until he is 18 before trying anything is not necessarily consistent with what the other kids get to hear.]
The counselors' acting is pretty good. The standouts are Brad Renfro, Dominique Swain, and Justin Long (of "Jeepers Creepers"; here he is a geeky counselor with a hopeless crush on Wendy and is the buff leader of the kids' water condom-balloon attack on most of the other counselors).
There is the usual hokiness (like an unexpected hurricane), smarmy emerging sexuality, and happy-enough ending. The DVD had no commentary track or behind-the-scenes materials. "Happy Campers" has a few interesting characters and segments in a familiar setting.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great sleeper hit! WATCH This movie ASAP, November 13, 2003
Today, teen comedies involve a lot crude humor and the kids just never learn anything. "Happy Campers" has BOTH, and mixes them well which will satisfy a wide audience. Why I never saw this movie get a national release is beyond me. This movie was ten times better then American Pie's or any of the other lousy and souless teen movies.
What was written in this movie growing up I lived through. One character in the movie goes off on the same feelings I once had.
This story really taps into what kids go through today. This is a must watch folks, sit back and enjoy some laughs as well as somethings to think about from you youth or if you are in this age group of the kids in the film they might cover issues and feelings you are currently going through.
Fantastic movie!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5.0 out of 5 stars
offbeat comedy, definately worth a watch, January 15, 2009
This is a very unique comedy, a bit of a 1980's raunchy teen/college movie but with a modern twist. If you enjoy that type of comedy then this is a good movie for you.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
