Wet Hot American Summer

Wet Hot American Summer is a 2001 feature film.

Related Topics:
2001 - Film

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The film is a comedy about the last night of summer camp in 1981. It stars Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni and members of MTV's sketch comedy group The State. It was directed by David Wain and written by Michael Showalter (who also stars in the movie) and Wain, both members of The State, and Comedy Central's Stella.

Related Topics:
Comedy - Summer camp - 1981 - Janeane Garofalo - David Hyde Pierce - Molly Shannon - Paul Rudd - Christopher Meloni - MTV - Sketch comedy - The State - David Wain - Michael Showalter - Comedy Central - Stella

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The setting is the fictitious Camp Firewood. It's the last day of summer camp, and the last day for each camper and counselor to find someone to kiss at the end of the big talent show that night. Beth, the camp counselor, struggles to keep her counselors in order- and her campers alive—while falling in love with Henry, an astrophysics professor at the local college. Henry has to devise a plan to save the camp from a piece of NASA's SkyLab, which is falling to Earth. Coop has a crush on Katie, his fellow counselor, but has to pry her away from her rebellious boyfriend, Andy. Only Gene, the shellshocked Vietnam vet and camp chef can help Coop win Katie- with some help from a talking can of vegetables.

Related Topics:
Astrophysics - NASA - Vietnam

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The movie is based on the experiences Wain had while attending Camp Modin, a Jewish camp in Belgrade, Maine. During one scene in the movie, the counselors take a trip into Waterville, Maine, which is not far from the camp.

Related Topics:
Belgrade, Maine - Waterville, Maine

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Often called "Wet Hot," the movie has gained a serious underground following, especially on college campuses. It may be called a modern-day Animal House, with fans quoting every single line, parties dedicated to dressing up like the characters, and midnight showings where both take place. The film itself follows The State's irreverent humor, with lots of absurdism, non-sequiturs, and toilet humor, all of which help explain the college following.

Related Topics:
Animal House - Absurdism - Non-sequitur - Toilet humor

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The film was shot at Camp Towanda in Honesdale, PA and is rated R for adult humor and language.

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A majority of the days spent filming were during rain, and the crew relished the rare times in which the sun was out. Several background shots in the movie, looking outside, inevitably have rain falling in them and / or grayish skies.

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As the film is set in the 1980s, the Wet Hot's soundtrack features songs from many popular 80s bands, most notably Jefferson Starship, Rick Springfield, Loverboy, Kiss and Peter Salett.

Related Topics:
1980s - Jefferson Starship - Rick Springfield - Loverboy - Kiss - Peter Salett

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