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Happy Campers

  • 2001
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
Brad Renfro, Dominique Swain, and Justin Long in Happy Campers (2001)
Dark ComedyComedy

When a summer camp director gets injured, the diverse group of college freshmen counselors take charge and spice up the everyday routine of the camp.When a summer camp director gets injured, the diverse group of college freshmen counselors take charge and spice up the everyday routine of the camp.When a summer camp director gets injured, the diverse group of college freshmen counselors take charge and spice up the everyday routine of the camp.

  • Director
    • Daniel Waters
  • Writer
    • Daniel Waters
  • Stars
    • Brad Renfro
    • Dominique Swain
    • Keram Malicki-Sánchez
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    2.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Daniel Waters
    • Writer
      • Daniel Waters
    • Stars
      • Brad Renfro
      • Dominique Swain
      • Keram Malicki-Sánchez
    • 40User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Happy Campers
    Trailer 1:57
    Happy Campers

    Photos91

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    Top cast32

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    Brad Renfro
    Brad Renfro
    • Wichita
    Dominique Swain
    Dominique Swain
    • Wendy
    Keram Malicki-Sánchez
    • Jasper
    Emily Bergl
    Emily Bergl
    • Talia
    Jordan Bridges
    Jordan Bridges
    • Adam
    Jaime King
    Jaime King
    • Pixel
    • (as James King)
    Justin Long
    Justin Long
    • Donald
    Peter Stormare
    Peter Stormare
    • Oberon
    Graham Frye
    • Charlie The Cook
    Ryan Adams
    • Bad Boy Billy
    Ashley Banks
    • Nasty Natalie
    Monica Hewes
    Monica Hewes
    • Millie
    • (as Monica Bugajski)
    Trevor Christensen
    • Wichitaesque Wes
    Elizabeth Dray
    • Hayley
    Xavier Hernandez
    • Upper Income Lawrence
    Margaret Ivey
    • Muttering Molly
    Alison Johnson
    • Sheila the Sleepwalker
    Daniel Kumatz
    • Red-Capped Rick
    • Director
      • Daniel Waters
    • Writer
      • Daniel Waters
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews40

    5.42.8K
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    Featured reviews

    usleepylidrive

    A Midsummer's Night Dream?

    I tried to think back to my 12 year self and I think she would have liked Happy Campers. Brad Renfro was great and even if his career has been reduced to guest spots in Ghost World, I still think he has talent. There was a "be yourself" message, but it was twisted rather than sparkling clean. I liked that. I liked the film (don't tell anyone). I just wish the writer hadn't tried so hard to make Midsummer's Night Dream references. A good teen movie is frivilous and meaningful and this was both.
    Serge_Zehnder

    Elevating Trash

    What so many have tried, works only here. "Wet Hot American Summer" tried it and failed, "Scream", although scary and brilliantly referential, lost its emotions on the way, and Kevin Smiths "Mallrats" caught but a few glimpses of it. Only Daniel Waters managed to pull it off. Here it is ladies and gents, a heartfelt homage to something (seemingly) impossible to pay tribute to - late seventies/early eighties teen flicks (camp or slasher factor put aside).

    Lacking a strong narrative, "Happy Campers" seems to be drifting along without a clear flow, but the way the movie changes gears from obvious dumb-founded Teen-Comedy to a rather insightful character study is just amazing. To direct something bad is easy, to direct something good is hard, but to take something that was once bad and elevate it to a meaningful and even touching movie about adolescence is next to impossible. Sure the odd bits and pieces sometimes don't fit together, but anything this loosely structured is bound to have a few things falling by the way side.

    Nevertheless, I think only a handful of people could have been able to get away with a movie of this sort. Waters with the "Heathers" credit under his wings is definitely among the chosen ones. And after not having been connected with any kind of movie, at least credit wise, for almost a decade, this directorial debut contains all the trademarks that made him a cult hero for so many aspiring screenwriters (me being one of them).

    The Verdict: The same that applies to "Heathers" - either you get it or you don't. If you do, I should agree with some of the other reviewers that this movie has cult potential. If it leaves you cold...it wasn't for you, but I hope it will some day.
    phoenix_elixir

    One of my favourite movies

    Happy Campers has to be in my top ten and probably right at the top! I don't know what it is, but it really is one of life's good movies. To me anyway, to everyone else its utter nonsense! It has even inspired me to fly to America when I'm old enough and be a camp counselor!! I love the soundtrack, and if anyone knows how I can get hold of the song titles on the movie, (so far I've failed!) please email me a website or song titles and artists; anything would help!!! Wichita & Wendy: their flourishing romance, Pixel's floopiness and hot fashion, all the counsellors and their completely opposite personalities and backgrounds...and of course all the happy campers. Each scene brings out a new idea, a new perspective that leads to the end result. And listen to what they say - its so true. Their philosophy and story telling is blissfully blunt and simple. I Anyway, 10/10!!! See it!!! And if you have, watch it again!!! God knows I have!!!
    cinefilegod

    Not your usual camping flick!

    Daniel Waters, the writer of Heathers, takes a turn in writing and directing his latest feature: Happy Campers. If Meatballs could be remade with more, younger, and edgier camp counselors, than this would be the film. Some parallels can be made between this film and Heathers, showing that Waters knew which elements worked: both have an overweight child who is picked on, then is later highly respected; both have a song/jingle that is overplayed, which drive a main character crazy; and both try to invent new words and catch phrases. Happy Campers also looks to be inspired from various aspects of Shakespeare. Someone says, "...doth protest too much," straight out of Hamlet; The term "fairies" is thrown around and the head counselor's name is Oberon, who was king of the fairies in A Midsummer Night's Dream; and they toy with the idea of death by poisoning, which is a common end to many Shakespearean tragedies. I greatly enjoyed this film - It took chances, and fought to stay out of the "cleaned-up summer camping movie" category. There's enough shock value here to leave a mark in your moral judgment!
    EllyDavis

    Awesome!

    As a camp counselor and former camper myself, I've gotta say this is probably my favorite movie. It just combines so many elements of humor, dark comedy, sex, drugs, and angst, that it actually borders on realistic. Of course, it is extremely exaggerated, but in the best way. For those of you out there that enjoy dark indie comedies with hot college co-eds, this is a great film. And for those of you out there that have counseled at summmer camps, this is definately a must see!

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Pivotal scenes that take place in the woods are tinted blue, same as the woods scenes in Heathers (1989). In one scene Wichita says, "If you ever find yourself turning into one of those, eat some Drano." In Heathers (1989), Heather Chandler died from drinking Drano.
    • Goofs
      At the end of the movie when Wendy misses the bus, it switches to the inside of the other bus and in the top left corner when they show Witchita on the bus, you can see Wendy standing at the back of the bus before she gets on at it all.
    • Quotes

      Wendy: Soon, we'll be adults and all we'll talk about is groceries.

    • Connections
      Featured in Beyond Clueless (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Softer Side
      Written and Performed by Kathleen York (as Bird York)

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Happy Campers?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 21, 2001 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Loca aventura
    • Filming locations
      • North Carolina, USA
    • Production company
      • DiNovi Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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