Camp - The Movie

Camp is a lighthearted feel-good film, in the vein of Grease and Fame. The story centres on an academy of hopeful teenage stars and the arrival of one rather devilishly handsome Vlad who turns the girls’ (and boys’) emotions into disarray.

It’s a musical set at a summer camp for young singers, dancers, actors and musicians. Bert Hanley is a former Broadway songwriter who has to work at the camp because his career has burnt out after a series of flops. Inspired by the kids at the camp, however, Bert sees his chance to find success again by recruiting them to put together a new production.

The film reveals the drama, loves and laughs of the teenagers, desperate to be noticed, as they struggle to break through and become stars.

The opening scene featuring the arrival of the students and one soulful song was impressive, promising a great deal and creating a sense of excitement. But I found it tailed off a bit after. I must confess I’m not at all passionate for musicals and some of the characters, although pretty well acted in the main by a cast of new faces, started to grate on my nerves in various ways.

The girl who poisons the ice queen so she may steal the best song on stage really made me laugh, and there are quite a few other funny bits that made me smile.

The film also tackled some rather complex issues concerning growing up, sexuality and relationships, all good stuff, but at times it comes across as taking itself WAY too seriously!

Camp is ideally suited to a young audience, it serves the purpose of a feelgood-summer film that is very easy to watch, its fun and good looking. It will definitely appeal to fans of the Popstar talent hunt TV shows, but I doubt it will gain any of the long term cult status that the Grease, Fame and Dirty Dancing have achieved.

Andrea Ward