Happy Campers is a 2001 comedy movie directed by Daniel Waters. The film follows a group of young counselors and campers at a summer camp called Camp Bleeding Dove. The main characters are Wichita, Wendy, Jasper, Talia, Wendy, and Pixel. The movie takes place over the course of one summer at the camp. The counselors are supposed to be in charge of the campers, but instead, they engage in various antics and hijinks. They play pranks on one another, hook up with each other, and generally just goof off. Meanwhile, the campers are left to their own devices, and they also get into trouble as they try to navigate the complexities of adolescence.
The campers and counselors are a diverse bunch, made up of different races, genders, and sexual orientations. Wichita is the main character, played by Brad Renfro. He's a brooding teenager who's still grieving the loss of his girlfriend, who died in a car accident. He's also in love with Wendy, played by Dominique Swain, who's dating the head counselor, Pixel, played by James King. Jasper, played by Justin Long, is the comic relief of the film. He's a musician who's always cracking jokes and trying to lighten the mood. Talia, played by Emily Bergl, is a camper who's struggling with her sexuality. She has a crush on Wendy but doesn't know how to express her feelings.
As the summer goes on, the counselors and campers get into increasingly absurd situations. They go skinny dipping, they have a dance party, they get lost in the woods, and they even have a funeral for a fish. The film is full of quirky, offbeat humor, and it's a fun watch for anyone who's ever been to summer camp or likes a good teen comedy.
The movie has its flaws, however. Some of the humor feels a bit dated, and some of the jokes don't land as well as they did in 2001. The film also suffers from some pacing issues, with some scenes feeling too long and others feeling too short. Additionally, some of the characters are underdeveloped, and it would have been nice to see more of their backstories and personalities.
Despite its flaws, Happy Campers is a charming movie that's worth watching for anyone who's a fan of teen comedies or summer camp movies. It's not a masterpiece, but it's an enjoyable way to spend 90 minutes.
Happy Campers is a 2020 comedy with a runtime of 18 minutes.
