Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Set on the last day of camp, in the hot summer of 1981, a group of counselors try to complete their unfinished business before the day ends.

Director:

David Wain

Writers:

Michael Showalter, David Wain

Stars:

Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Showalter

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Janeane Garofalo	...	Beth
David Hyde Pierce	...	Henry
Michael Showalter	...	Coop
Marguerite Moreau	...	Katie
Paul Rudd	...	Andy
Zak Orth	...	J.J.
Christopher Meloni	...	Gene
A.D. Miles	...	Gary
Molly Shannon	...	Gail
Gideon Jacobs	...	Aaron
Ken Marino	...	Victor
Joe Lo Truglio	...	Neil
Michael Ian Black	...	McKinley
Liam Norton	...	Arty
Amy Poehler	...	Susie

Storyline

The setting is Camp Firewood, the year 1981. It's the last day before everyone goes back to the real world, but there's still a summer's worth of unfinished business to resolve. At the center of the action is camp director Beth, who struggles to keep order while she falls in love with the local astrophysics professor. He is busy trying to save the camp from a deadly piece of NASA's Skylab which is hurtling toward earth. All that, plus: a dangerous waterfall rescue, love triangles, misfits, cool kids, and talking vegetable cans. The questions will all be resolved, of course, at the big talent show at the end of the day.

---

Plot Keywords:

year 1981 | tube sock | car crashing into a tree | sex scene | rescue | 

---

Taglines:

It was the last day of summer camp. It was the first day of the third week in August.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, language and a drug sequence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper have portrayed movie characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Cooper is the voice of Rocket Raccoon, and Rudd portrayed Ant-Man.

---

Goofs

The elastic on the men's Fruit of the Loom Briefs had the brand name printed on them which did not happen until years later. At that time the film was set, it was just the blue and yellow stripes.

---

Quotes

Susie: Before we start, I'd just like to say the campers you're about to see suck dick! But nevertheless, please welcome them.

---

Crazy Credits

After the credits is a "10 years later" epilogue.

---

Alternate Versions

DVD contains several deleted scenes.

---

Connections

Featured in Stella Shorts 1998-2002 (2002)

---

Soundtracks

Day By Day
Written by Stephen Schwartz
Performed by Kathleen Pandolfo

User Reviews

A Cult Classic of Epic Proportions

"Wet Hot American Summer" is an overlooked comic gem and an absurdest spoof of those god-awful summer camp movies from the 1980's. If you enjoy "Monty Python" style sketch humor or were a fan of "The State" (many of the players are employed here) or "Kids in the Hall," then this is the ticket for you. People who enjoy humor more in line with the Farelly Brothers or the "American Pie" films probably just won't "get this." It's all a matter of taste and your sense of humor. But seriously, how can you go wrong with a movie that has a pep talk from a talking can of vegetables or an overly dramatic chase scene where the person doing the chasing is thwarted by a single barrel of hay in the middle of a wide open road? My personal favorite is when the guy is driving the van singing along to "Danny's Song" and then out of nowhere screams bloody murder as he slams into a tree. Oh, and who can forget the hilariously rapid decent into the underworld of drugs and despair by the kids spending an hour away from camp in town? This is also a must see for people who appreciate Janeane Garafalo's comic timing and Molly Shannon's bizarre brand of humor. This film was grossly overlooked when it hit theaters, but I think there is a cult following waiting for this movie. I hope these people are allowed to collaborate on another comedy. If they are, then we may have a new dawn of "Monty Python" style humor infecting the barbarian hordes.

Details

Official Sites:

Eureka Pictures

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 2002 (Czech Republic)

Also Known As:

Wet Hot American Summer

Filming Locations:

Honesdale, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,481, 29 July 2001

Gross USA:

$295,206

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$295,206

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eureka Pictures, North Coast Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1