This is the second round of the Honest Book Club, I would like to invite everyone in joining me to watch 'Wet Hot American Summer'. This cult-classic was released in 2001 by Universal Pictures. This movie was written by two friends David Wain and Michael Showalter. Wain went on to direct this movie while Showalter stole the show (hehe) in the leading role of "Coop". At this moment, 'Wet Hot American Summer' is streaming on Amazon Prime.
I associate this movie with the fond memories of my time working as a counselor at a summer camp. Not very shockingly, there were counselors working that seemed copied from the film and pasted straight into my work life. Ensemble stories can be hard to pull off let alone on such a small budget as what their production was operating on (about 5 million USD). What makes me love this movie is the style of humor, the music, and most of all that it was something that two friends came together to make. That last part is what I find most inspiring as someone who has created a production company with her greatest friends. You don’t need approval from the bloated hollywood giants to see your goals through.
Needless to say ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ sets a bar personally and in everything I aim to create. The creative use of the soundtrack helps to set the scene and solidify the era and speak to the current happenings for story beat to story beat.
Outside of that is what’s actually in the movie itself. Plenty of jokes and gags that I’d recommend watching this multiple times because I guarantee you’d notice something new each time. I know I still am. This goes to show that there was a lot of methodical effort that went into making Wet Hot as great as it is down to a scientific level.
(I always like to say that comedy is a science. My boyfriend makes fun of me for it. I make fun of me for it.)
Share your thoughts on the movie in the comments below. I'd love to hear them!
Here are some discussion questions to start you off:
> What was your favorite character arc (and why)?
> Do you think the sounds design or the props used play a bigger part in selling certain gags?
> Which part do you think was scored the best?
> Is there a cast-member you were surprised to see in this microbudget film?