Theater Camp Movie Review

Theater Camp (2023)

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Written by: Noah Galvin & Molly Gordon & Nick Lieberman & Ben Platt
Directed by: Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman
Starring: Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, Noah Galvin, Jimmy Tatro, Caroline Aaron, Ayo Edebiri, Amy Sedaris
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer

Plot
The eccentric staff of a rundown theater camp for kids in upstate New York must band together with the beloved founder's bro-y son to keep the camp afloat.

Verdict
This is satirical and over the top, but the characters are so serious and invested in what they're doing that it becomes incredibly entertaining. They're not in on the joke, and that makes this a lot of fun. While the plot is thin, this feels like an extended improv. There are so many memorable scenes and quotable lines.
Watch It.

Review
Seems fitting that Jimmy Tatro stars in this as well as a series within the same sub-genre, American Vandal. Both share a similar style of faux documentary humor.

The premise of this is a documentary, but it's satirical as the main subject of the documentary falls into a coma and the crew decides to keep filming anyway.  The camp director's son Troy (Jimmy Tatro) takes over. He's ignorant about theater and running any kind of business. The camp leaders, Rebecca-Diane and Amos, aren't great performers, they just love theater.

Molly Gordon, Ben Platt play Rebecca-Diane, Amos

This is insane in a great way. The characters have a lot of energy, passionate about theater. It's bonkers just how obsessed they are. While they may not be the most talented, they are dedicated. Ayo Edebiri plays Janet, she was great in The Bear. In this she gets hired despite a ridiculous and made up resume. She stumbles through the job, somehow convincing everyone she knows what she is doing. At one point she's teaching stage combat. She's trying to figure out what it is as the students discuss it poetically and esoterically. She asks for a legal definition, frustrated that the kids won't provide a simple answer.

Ayo Edibiri plays Janet

This premise is so ridiculous, but this could be a cult classic. It's a theater camp taught by people that aren't even performers. This is a movie where everyone is absurd but so serious about what they're doing it's funny. The one clear thing is that everyone is passionate. This doesn't necessarily have a plot, but it feels improvised. At one point a teacher criticizes tear sticks as doping for actors. "Do you want to be the Lance Armstrong of theater?"