Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp

Set in 1981, Wet Hot American Summer (2001) is the story of Camp Firewood and the raunchy counselors who strive to make their last day of camp one they’ll never forget. Directed by David Wain, WHAS is comprised of a hilarious cast starring Paul Rudd as Andy, the bad boy who has a way with the ladies, specifically Katie, played by Marguerite Moreau, Amy Poehler and Bradley Cooper dominate the camp thespians, and Michael Showalter acts as “Coop,” the stories main character who is just trying to fit in and find a girlfriend, also specifically Katie. Michael Ian Black, Molly Shannon, Christopher Meloni and Elizabeth Banks also contribute to the deadpan humor and witty jokes.

Fourteen years later, David Wain and  Michael Showalter have created an 8 episode series of Camp Firewood, only this time set in 1981 on the first day of camp. ATTENTION: only watch the series, if you have watched the movie first. The humor stays the same, but a lot of it depends on the audience’s knowledge of the movie. The series is funny in its telling of origins: how “Coop” came to wear a cut off shirt and a puka shell necklace, how Katie and Andy became an item and how H. Jon Benjamin became “The Can.” New faces enroll in the camp: Jason Schwartzman, “Weird Al,” Jordan Peele, John Hamm, Kristen Wiig, and Chris Pine among others. And you can’t beat the awesome music!

The series doesn’t miss a beat, and the fact that the actors are fourteen years older playing fifteen and sixteen year old’s makes it that much more hilarious. Furthermore, the series is quick, 8 episodes on Netflix no longer than thirty minutes and literally no brainpower required, just watch and laugh.

5/5