Barbie?…Oppenheimer?…No…Theater Camp!

(Theater Camp Cast, IMDb)

There were so many major hit movies in 2023, but one movie I believe was underappreciated is Theater Camp. The movie was written by Ben Platt (original star of Dear Evan Hansen), Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, and Nick Lieberman. Not only were they the writers but the stars as well. The premise of the film is that Joan Still, the director of  Theater Camp, falls into a coma in the first five minutes of the movie. Then, her completely clueless yet hilarious son, Troy, has to lead the camp. However, best friends Rebbecca-Diane and Amos (camp experts and alums) don't like this plan of Troy taking over. They continue to run the camp without Joan by putting on their annual play honoring her life. 

One of the most special things about this movie is that the writers and stars, Ben, Noah, Molly, and Nick, have been friends since childhood. As all of them are summer camp and theater pros, the true essence of camp shines through. A lot of the film was actually improvised to let the performers take over and express their creativity. An impressive thing is how little the budget was compared to how good and genuine the movie is. The budget given by Fox Searchlight was $8 million, which sounds like a lot. But compared to other movies this year like Barbie ($145 million) and Oppenheimer ($100 million), it is a miniscule amount. 

Theater Camp is hilarious and incredibly relatable. The laugh-out-loud cackles in the movie theater really are proof of that. As a lover of all things theater and an avid sleepaway camp fan, for me, Theater Camp was the cherry on top of my summer. The characters in the movie truly highlight the special bonds of being at sleepaway camp. When watching, you feel a sense of comfort and the nostalgia of being with all of your friends at camp.

This past summer I got to be a camp counselor at the sleepaway camp I've been attending for almost ten years. Although it isn’t a theater camp, theater was and still is my favorite activity at camp. When I was taking care of kids this summer, it was a legacy that needed to be continuously passed on. I had the opportunity to watch my kids on the stage get their first applause. Similar to Theater Camp, the characters and I felt the sense of belonging to be at camp and to pass on the camp traditions.

Theater Camp has a great plot that keeps the watcher intrigued and entertained until the very end. The songs are perfectly crafted, with the help of the creativity of the lyrics. After watching the movie three times in the theater and twice at home, I decided it was a good idea to add the playlist to my Apple Music, and it definitely did not disappoint! The songs are now my morning pick-me-up on my way to school. If you want a joyous and lighthearted movie to watch, especially if you are a theater or camp lover, please for the love of God just watch Theater Camp; you won't be disappointed!