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Daniel Letterle, Joanna Chilcoat, Robin De Jesus, Tiffany Taylor, Sasha Allen ... see more see more... , Alana Allen , Anna Kendrick , Don Dixon

Tony-nominated actor Todd Graff makes his directorial debut with the musical comedy Camp, featuring an ensemble cast of newcomers. Guitarist Vlad (Daniel Letterle) attends Camp Ovation, the summer the... read more read more...ater camp for budding actors, dancers, and musicians. Finding himself to be one of the only hetero boys around, he soon befriends nice girl Ellen (Joanna Chilcoat). Meanwhile, openly gay Michael (Robin de Jesus) develops a crush on him. This sparks dramatic confrontations among fellow campers Jenna (Tiffany Taylor), Jill (Alana Allen), and Fritzi (Anna Kendrick). The whole camp is run by Bert Hanley (Don Dixon), a washed-up Broadway songwriter who decides to enlist the help of his young campers to put together a new production. Features musical numbers by Stephen Sondheim and the Rolling Stones, as well as original tunes from composer Michael Gore and lyricist Lynn Ahrens. Camp was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Flixster Users

69% liked it

10,811 ratings

Critics

63% liked it

102 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Todd Graff

Release Date: July 25, 2003

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DVD Release Date: February 24, 2004

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Vince Rimoldi plays a role in Camp (2003) Daniel Letterle in Camp Vince Rimoldi plays a role in Camp (2003) Vince Rimoldi plays a role in Camp (2003) Camp Daniel Letterle and Todd Graff in Camp STEVEN CUTTS in CAMP Robin De Jesus in Camp Robin De Jesus in Camp Camp Camp
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Flixster Reviews (1,072)

  • LWOODS04
    August 7, 2011
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Don Dixon, Anna Kendrick, Daniel Letterle, Joanna Chilcoat, Robin de Jesus, Steven Cutts, Vince Rimoldi, Kahiry Bess, Chris Spain, Sasha Allen, Alana Allen, Egle Petraityte, Dequina Moore, Stephen DiMenna, Tiffany Taylor, Stephen Sondheim

    Director: Todd Graff

    Summary... read more: Camp Ovation is a performing arts summer camp where talented kids come to spread their wings. Among them are Vlad (Daniel Letterle), a "bona fide straight boy"; Ellen (Joanna Chilcoat), a megastar with huge insecurities; and Michael (Robin de Jesus), who's struggling with his sexual identity. Their director, Bert Hanlon (Don Dixon), is a washed-up has-been -- but the kids have at least as much to teach him as he has to teach them.

    My Thoughts: "I was a bit surprised on how bad some of the acting was considering what the film is about. Although it got a bit boring and definitely had quite a few cheesy moments, I did find some of the movie funny. Anna Kendrick doesn't have much screen time, but you can tell that she out shined them all in the acting and it's no surprise she's doing so well now. Although the film isn't great it does tread on some serious issues for teens and their relationships with their parents. I felt awful for Michael and the one who had her mouth wired shut (forgot her name). I won't deny that there is talent in the movie, it's just the star doesn't shine as bright for some then it does for the others. The film in the end is forgetful."
  • djdemersseman
    January 12, 2011
    djdemersseman
    It lives up to its name. What more is there to say? Well, other than that, yes, all the singers sing rather well and Anna Kendrick clearly shows talent here that we get to see more of in her later films.
  • dreamfaeries
    July 12, 2010
    dreamfaeries
    I was rather bored watching it, but some of the cast has got some awesome talent. Letterle, Chilcoat, and Kendrick have amazing voices. But the movie was totally worth getting through to the end to see, I believe it was, Taylor sing at the end. That girl was SPECTACULAR!
  • romy861
    April 18, 2009
    romy861
    This looked great on the previews. I was surprised I didn't actually enjoy it all that much. Acting okay, but not that interesting.
  • danieljparsons
    June 2, 2007
    danieljparsons
    "You know, I think I've met your sister, Cinderella."

    Five stars? Hell yes. For me, star ratings are kind of dependant on what a film sets out to achieve, so whilst this many not be an all-out masterpiece a la Hitchcock, Polanski, 'insert your favorite auteur here' etc

    ... read moreetc., Camp accomplishes exactly what aspires to, delivers in spades, and is in my view very successful indeed.

    A mixed group of talented kids go to drama camp for the holidays to act, sing and dance - for some, Camp Ovation is the only place where they feel they fit in - it's a place where they can escape, or follow ambitions, or reset their personalities, and subvert their own and others expectations of them. The characters, chief among them 'plain Jane' Ellen (Joanna Chilcoat), handsome, somewhat confused and attention seeking Vlad (Daniel Letterle), gay outsider Michael (Robin DeJesus) and talented Dee (Sasha Allen), are surprisingly well crafted for a modern 'musical', and the actors who portray them are a talented bunch of people (Robin DeJesus is particularly impressive, and Daniel Letterle gets to show he's more than a pretty face as the movie progresses).

    Some may accuse the story of being predictable, but it has conviction and follows through with plot points that in lesser films would be forced to the background or kept as subtext. Director/Writer Todd Graff, drawing on his own experiences at a musical camp, displays a knack for one-liners and adolescent emotions (sexuality is especially well realised), and the musical numbers are very well staged.

    Funny, perceptive, emotionally engaging and way better than I had expected it to be. Crank up your volume for the musical numbers.

    "I tell you something. They're a bunch of little freaks... and the more normal we try and make them, the more lonely and isolated they're gonna feel."
  • trisarahtops22
    January 11, 2011
    trisarahtops22
    It was kind of ironic that a movie about learning how to act featured mostly bad acting (although I don't think that's what they intended).
  • SunilJawahir
    August 10, 2007
    SunilJawahir
    A campy musical about kids at music camp.
  • nikkiamenee
    April 3, 2010
    nikkiamenee
    This is something you really need to watch when you're expecting really corny bad stuff. But if you're in that mood, it can be slightly entertaining.
  • scrambledegg7
    June 30, 2009
    scrambledegg7
    Awww. I had such high hopes for this movie, especially in the first twenty minutes or so. I immediately recognized the framed picture Michael had on his dresser, exclaimed, "That's Stephen Sondheim!" and settled in for what I assumed would be a marvelous remaining 90 minutes.

    Un... read morefortunately, things started to unravel. Characters were revealed to all be nasty and unpleasant, or have nasty and unpleasant things done to them for no reason at all. It tried to wrap it up in the end with a "we're not all perfect" theme... but what am I to do when everyone I felt sympathy for had been crushed and then returned to be crushed again by those I *didn't* have sympathy for? If this was meant to be some sort of social drama, or satirical comedy about friendship, it could have worked, but the entire movie suggested teen comedy involving musical theater. And then it went the completely wrong direction for that genre. The only really good thing about this movie was the snippets of songs from truly great musicals that found their way in.
  • jetplanee
    November 18, 2008
    jetplanee
    It's oddly hilarious. the characters are so believable and I was able to connect every character to someone I know.

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Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
August 22, 2003
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

A soap-opera patchwork of worn backstage cliches.

Kathy Cano Murillo
August 22, 2003
Kathy Cano Murillo, Arizona Republic

A poor man's Fame. If you can live with that, it makes for a somewhat entertaining experience.

Terry Lawson
August 21, 2003
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Fame may seem silly in retrospect, but Camp, with its dippy dialogue and characters revealing even less complexity than the ones from 42nd Street, arrives silly. Full Review

Jeff Strickler
August 15, 2003
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

You'll have trouble keeping your toes from tapping. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
August 15, 2003
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

The kids have energy to burn, and you can't help but marvel at the polish they bring to a variety of numbers from a variety of musicals.

Tom Sime
August 15, 2003
Tom Sime, Dallas Morning News

Its earnest acting and brimming-over love for musicals are infectious, and most of its shopworn narrative devices play as tribute rather than trite. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
August 15, 2003
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Restraint and exuberance, joy and tenderness, and a cameo by the patron saint of musical theater, Stephen Sondheim. Full Review

Desson Thomson
August 8, 2003
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Occasional clumsiness is easily coated over by the movie's overarching goodwill. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
August 8, 2003
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Spiked with some genuine show-stopping musical numbers, and the sheer pluck of its young cast is nothing if not admirable. Full Review

Peter Howell
August 8, 2003
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Writer/director Graff doesn't give the kids much to work with, lumbering them with a script overloaded with gay clichés ... and lazy rip-offs. Full Review

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Camp Trivia

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