Common Sense Media Review
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Drinking, mature themes in heartfelt church camp comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Bad Counselors
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
After one wild night at their fraternity, best friends Grayson (Matt Cornett) and Tyler (Ramon Reed) must pretend to be Christian camp counselors to avoid getting expelled from college in BAD COUNSELORS. But it will take more than a prayer to save this "frat bro" to "church bro" duo as they try to learn the lingo, fake the faith, and lead a bunch of misfit middle school campers.
Is It Any Good?
With a refreshing emphasis on the idea of second chances, this is a sincere, heartfelt twist on summer-camp comedies. Bad Counselors' relatable redemption story is earnest in its messaging while keeping the pace fun, light, and unpredictable. Cornett and Reed's on-screen chemistry results in genuine characters who feel realistically flawed but also beautifully human.
While somewhat heavy-handed in terms of Christian lingo and overall tone, Bad Counselors also doesn't take itself too seriously. It offers plenty of laughs and punchlines geared toward both the faith-based community and non-believers, without hard-selling salvation. Its biggest surprise may be the emotional pull it will have on viewers' heartstrings, tugging when they least expect it for a climax that hits right in the soul.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Bad Counselors portrays faith, God, and Christianity. Which values were highlighted in this film? Did the characters' actions reflect the values they believed? Does that matter?
Did the use of humor enhance or distract from the movie's core messages for you? How does humor affect the way we view right and wrong?
What makes someone a good camp counselor? What strengths did Grayson and Tyler have when it came to forming relationships with their camp buddies? What could they perhaps have done differently to bond with their middle schoolers?
Do you think the characters earned their second chances? Why, or why not? Have you ever needed a "second chance" at something? What did you learn from it?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 22, 2026
- Cast : Matt Cornett , Ramon Reed , Missi Pyle , Chris Klein
- Director : Chris Dowling
- Studio : Fathom Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Faith ( Christianity ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Integrity
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : suggestive material
- Last updated : July 23, 2026
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