Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Wet Hot American Summer Blu-ray Movie Review

No "ch ch ch" but a lot of "ha ha ha."

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 13, 2015

The early 1980s. Summer camp. Cinema. That can only mean one thing. Friday the 13th. Right? Wrong! Like so totally wrong! It also means Wet Hot American Summer, Director David Wain's (Role Models) ode to the campy (literally!) classics of yore and the Comedy staples of the late 1970s and early 1980s in a movie that's like Caddyshack meets Ernest Goes to Camp. What the movie lacks in creativity it makes up for in spunk (lots and lots of spunk) and spirit. It tries a little too hard, falls flat as it moves along, and gets a bit repetitive once it's all been put in motion, but the movie is lively, energetic, and unapologetic as a hormone-infused romp that's enjoyed a burgeoning cult status and is about to spin-off in the form of a prequel starring the original cast (and all of their accumulated 14 years since) that's set to steam on Netflix in July 2015.

Scopin' out the ladies.

It's the last day of camp at Camp Firewood, which means it's the last chance for the kids to go crazy and the counselors to go get some. Coop (Writer Michael Showalter) doesn't have a girlfriend, but he's got his eyes on the easy Katie (Marguerite Moreau), a hottie nymphomaniac who maintains a steamy relationship with camp stud Andy (Paul Rudd), a guy with commitment problems who just wants to scratch notches into his bedpost, not settle down with a one-and-only. Meanwhile, the camp's operator, Beth (Janeane Garofalo), finds herself uncontrollably attracted to a local named Newman (David Hyde Pierce), an assistant professor of astrophysics at a nearby college. That means he's best friend to the camp's nerdiest students and likely has nothing in common with Beth. Meanwhile, a disgruntled arts and crafts teacher named Gail (Molly Shannon) laments her bad marriage and seeks solace in, and counseling from, her students. Finally, a couple counselors -- Susie (Amy Poehler) and Ben (Bradley Cooper) -- work hard to put the finishing touches on the final day talent show.

Wet Hot American Summer is essentially Meatballs for the adult, R-rated crowd, a dirtier, fouler, heavily sexualized summer camp film that earns its R-rating if for nothing other than its seemingly endless barrage of tongue-twisting French kisses in which the characters essentially slobber all over one another in the kind of thing that was probably born of some wet dream concocted in the hormonal minds of Writers Michael Showalter and David Wain. The movie is essentially a collection of vignettes, most of which revolve around the counselors angling to make out with one another and the various shenanigans that follow. The film looks at the successful and the not-so-successful in the world of summer camp making out and paints its characters with broad strokes rather than try and find any meaningful nuance. Then again, when the characters' one and only goal is hanky-panky, there's not a lot of wiggle room for anything more than sultry glances, open invitations, obvious advances, and opportunities to ditch bits of clothing or better yet, ditch the kids for a trip around the bases. About the only relationship that strives to find some semblance of depth understandably comes from the budding romance between the film's two adults, Garofalo's Beth and Hyde Pierce's Newman, in a series of comical bits in which they realize they need to brush up on the other's likes and interests if they're going to get that special good-night kiss, or more. Campers play little more than a support role in the movie, props, essentially, to help spur on the film's funnier bits that facilitate romance or get in the way of it.

Unfortunately, the film loses steam as it moves along. It's highly repetitive and while specific jokes don't recycle, themes and the way in which the movie gets to the jokes do overlap quite a bit as it only plays around with variations on the theme of "let's make out" or "not." The only mystery is who will tongue-tie and who will walk away without getting some. But the movie, fortunately, finds some positives elsewhere. Most obvious is its incredibly precise recreation of not only the early 80's look but that unmistakable late 70s, early 80s classic cinema comedy feel. Audiences may rightly do a double-take when they see the movie was released in 2001 and not 20 years prior. It fits in perfectly with that Caddyshack, Meatballs, Porky's, Animal House era in terms of physical appearance and structure. The filmmakers certainly did their homework and have created one of the most amazing retro experiences of the past couple of decades. The cast is spot-on and dives headfirst into the film's absurdity, doing a great job of covering up the movie's obvious shortcomings with an enthusiasm and all-in attitude that elevates it all from "meh" to "pretty funny," even as the razor-thin plot lines begin to dull with time.

Wet Hot American Summer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Wet Hot American Summer features a generally impressive 1080p transfer. It's flat early on with an evident pastiness and lack of cinematic detail that quickly gives way to a light, attractive grain structure and well-defined textures, including a variety of wooden accents around the camp but also sharp clothing lines and revealing facial complexities. The image is naturally sharp, for the most part, with very little softness evident. Colors are rich and pleasing, with natural greens, loud pinks and reds, and quality background hues all making for a satisfying, healthy palette. There are a few occurrences of excess warmth, however, which can influence otherwise balanced flesh tones. Black levels never give too much trouble outside of the dull, noisy opening title sequence. The transfer suffers from a handful of pops and speckles and some noise (particularly during the talent show) but is otherwise attractive and sure to please longtime fans.

Wet Hot American Summer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Wet Hot American Summer arrives on Blu-ray with a decent DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack. Obviously lacking is a fuller stage and a sense of immersion into the various activities around Camp Firewood, but the 2.0 track does at least spread itself nicely around the front with various bits of camp chaos spilling into the stage from the sides, though even front end range doesn't stretch too far. Basic clarity is fine all around, whether camp din or more specific elements such as music and dialogue. Music never stretches far from the center, leaving the sides working predominately with chirping birds, splashing water, and other little natural bits. Dialogue features center imaging and commendable basic clarity.

Wet Hot American Summer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

No top menu is included; all of Wet Hot American Summer's special features must be accessed in-film via the "pop-up" menu. A movie with this many extras should have a proper main menu screen.

• 10th Anniversary Event Highlights (1080p, 31:33): Select cast and crew (and characters) discuss their memories of the movie and field a few questions in front of an audience and with a band. From Brooklyn, NY, August 2, 2011, complete with a blurred can of beans and cut audio due to clearance issues.
• Wet Hot American Summer: Live at SF Sketchfest (1080p, 44:17): The cast presents a staged reading/recreation of scenes from the film.
• Deleted Scenes (480i, 12:09): Several chopped scenes with optional commentary from Co-Writer/Director David Wain and Writer Michael Showalter.
• Cast Moments (480i): Small, digestible soundbyte insights on the film from Janeane Garofalo, (1:19), David Hyde Pierce (1:19), Molly Shannon (1:04), Paul Rudd (0:32), Christopher Meloni (0:30), Marguerite Moreau (0:32), Michael Showalter (1:33), and David Wain (1:12).
• Behind the Scenes (480i, 15:38): True to its name, this piece offers a random assortment of moments from the making of the movie.
• Songs with Production Stills (480i): Music from the movie playing atop photos from the shoot. Included are Wet Hot American Dream (3:11), Summer in America (3:48), Wet Hot American Summer (2:23), and Higher and Higher (1:31).
• Wet Hot American Summer Theatrical Trailer (480i, 1:50).
• Audio Commentary: Director/Co-Writer David Wain, Co-Writer Michael Showalter, and Actress Janeane Garofalo deliver a high energy and fun track that covers both basics and more intimate details, including shooting locations, cast, anecdotes from the shoot, life on the set, music, editing, scene specific insights, and more. Recorded in October 2001.
• Soundtrack with Extra Farts (DTS 2.0): Random fart sounds are included in the movie's soundtrack.

Wet Hot American Summer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Wet Hot American Summer's throwback appeal has won it a cult following that has seen it blossom years after its initial release. While the jokes wear thin under the burden of repetitiveness, there's no mistaking the movie's strengths, including its keen understanding of the era in which it is based and the enthusiastic performances that enrich it. Universal's Blu-ray release of Wet Hot American Summer features solid video, decent audio, and a wealth of bonus content. Recommended.