CAMP Rating: (out of 5 stars) Director: Todd Graff Producer: Pamela Koffler, Katie Roumel, Christine Vachon Writer: Todd Graff Director of Photography: Kip Bogdahn Cast: Daniel Letterle, Joanna Chilcoat, Robin De Jesus, Don Dixon, Sasha Allen Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew

Click on the photo to buy merchandise from Camp.

(Read the interview with writer/director Todd Graff.)

Review by: Dan Tester
7/20/03

Camp is one of those rare commodities these days -- it is a pleasant surprise. It is a comedy/drama about the trials and tribulations of gifted young singers and dancers at a summer camp established to enhance their talents. It reminds me a lot of Fame, there is a dash of Meatballs, but even so, it is a wonderfully entertaining, original film. It is a film about misfits; the nerds and outcasts in the caste system of high school who find escape and peace for a few months during the summer in a faraway refuge called Camp Ovation.

The central character, if there is one, seems to be Vlad (yes, his name is Vlad, and he is played by Daniel Letterle.) This is Vlad's first year at Camp Ovation, and it appears he is the only heterosexual male for miles. He is a nice guy (he looks like a young Charles Grodin, which to this day I think is a weird observation to make) and both the gay males and the straight females notice right away, and come clamoring. Vlad becomes something of a leader to the group of misfits, giving them each a sort of friendship and guidance that they have never experienced from a peer. It seems as if Vlad was sent from heaven above to cater to each and every need. Thus follows a summer of fun, frolic, pain, and growth as the kids rehearse and perform various Broadway production numbers, and discover things about themselves and others that will change them forever.

I am not a big fan of "show tunes," but one of the real strengths of Camp are the electric and thoroughly enjoyable stage performances. Peppered throughout the film are student reenactments of classic Broadway showstoppers, and for once in my life, I actually felt myself craving them more than the narrative. The film opens with a credit sequence in which a young African-American woman, Dee (Sasha Allen), sings a heartfelt and strangely haunting tune as a backdrop to a montage of clips introducing the characters that sets the tone for a film that is going to be, at the very least, one step up from standard. One musical number in particular, featuring resident camp sexpot Jill (Alana Allen), is so brilliantly produced and genuinely inspired that I was surprised at how sad I was at its conclusion. I was expecting the screening room to spontaneously fill with wild applause and standing ovations. And a late performance, as a shy young girl with braces belts out a whopper of a song for her surprised parents in the audience, is quite moving and a nice payoff for the film as a whole -- well, let me take that back. It "would" have been a nice payoff, but director Todd Graff decides to drag the film out for one scene too many, and it is kind of damaging.

Any faithful readers of my reviews (hi Mom) have heard my rants about this inherent need of late to add a "clever" twist at the end of every film. Camp has one that is just baffling -- plot complications late in the film (ridiculously late) involve taking a character we have become endeared to and completely pulling out the rug and making him kind of a bad guy, or at least a screwed up guy. What is the point of this? It really kind of spoils all that has come before it. I really hate this trend. Sure, if you are making a film like The Sixth Sense or The Others for the sole purpose of surprising people at the end, then it makes for exciting filmmaking. But Camp's twist is just dumb, and completely unnecessary, because the protagonist ends up being "loved" by everyone anyway. I know this all sound cryptic, but I don't want to spoil it. It just left me with a confused feeling, one that was kind of angry.

The performances are all pretty good (all relative unknowns which works in the film's favor), particularly Joanna Chilcoat as the frumpy Ellen, and Robin De Jesus as the gender-bending Michael. Todd Graff's writing and direction reflect a real passion for the subject matter (he in fact attended the real Camp Ovation in his youth), and I think with proper marketing, Camp could become a genuine sleeper hit. But then again, I thought Crispin Glover's Willard could be a sleeper hit, so what do I know?

But as always, it is only one man's opinion.

(An IFC Films' release. Opens in New York and Los Angeles on July 25, 2003. Expands to more cities at later dates.)

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