I can’t be the only one who is already sucked into the new ABC Family show Huge. But even if you’re not into the fat camp comedy, you will surely have your own favorite fictional camp. Maybe you loved the musical film Camp, starring a young Anna Kendrick. Or perhaps you look past the gender issues with the killer in Sleepaway Camp and can’t help but love the trilogy. Perhaps you’re into the one-off episodes on shows like Full House where they decide to do a family camp out and hilarity ensues.
Trish Bendix: The Daria episode “Camp Fear” will always stay with me. If there was anything I could agree with the cynical Daria on, it was not liking the idea of the great outdoors. I can sing a song in a circle and eat marshmallows inside, thank you very much! Plus, I always had a little crush on Jane.
Lesley Goldberg: There’s no better summer camp movie than 1979’s Meatballs, starring Bill Murray. Summer is all about slacking off – and rooting for the underdog – and Meatballs has both, and more. Cheering on 11-year-old Rudy (Chris Makepeace) as he and the rest of Camp Northstar go head-to-head with the fancy Camp Mohawk in their version of the summer Olympics is like rooting for the L.A. Dodgers against the Yankees: Heart vs. Bucks.
But what makes Meatballs truly something special is that sense of camaraderie that Murray’s head counselor Tripper brings to those around him – including CITs in dolphin shorts and Morty, the beleaguered owner of the struggling camp. With speeches that get everyone riled up, Murray and “Meatballs” prove that money just doesn’t matter when it comes to heart. And summer.
Mia Jones: This Huddle topic is so close to my heart. Not only was I a regular at Jewish overnight camp for years, I also went to fat camp – twice. I loved every single second of it. This is why I can’t just choose one favorite camp movie, I’ve got to pick a few.
First up, we’ll go with Wet Hot American Summer. It’s hilarious and stars Janeane Garafolo, Michael Ian Black, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, Molly Shannon and my baby daddy, Paul Rudd. With a line-up like that, you don’t even need me to go on, but I must.
Another favorite of mine was Poison Ivy, mostly because Nancy McKeon (Jo from The Facts of Life – I mean, come on now people) was one of the stars.
Next up, Heavy Weights. It’s probably a lesser known Judd Apatow movie, but it’s about fat camp and I just can’t help myself when it comes to anything having to do with heavy kids. Some may call me obsessed.
thelinster: I don’t even have to think about this one; my fave camp movie is But I’m a Cheerleader. When the movie came out, I had been out long enough to finally be able to see the humor in my days as a fundamentalist – and I embarrassed myself in the theater by laughing loudly and often at things no one else seemed to get.
I can’t tell you how many times I internally countered the possibility that I was gay by telling myself, “I dress well, I go to Bible study, I’m a sorority girl.” If the movie had been titled But I’m a Tri-Delta, I would’ve sued somebody.
Drummerdeeds: I grew up with Nickelodeon (when it was awesome – Roundhouse, anyone?) and Salute Your Shorts is by far my favorite anything about summer camp. I still snicker every time Bobby says, “It makes us wanna fart!” Wow, I’m eight years old.
OK, your turn. Get campy!
