Camp Takota

Name: Camp Takota
Item: Camp Takota
Rating: 2
Author: Andrea Beach

Movie review by

Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 14+

(i)

Uninspired summer camp tale with YouTube personalities.

NR
2014
95 minutes

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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 3 reviews

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The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

We all need to find the place where we're happy, and there's no one right answer for everyone. Stay loyal to your friends. Camp camaraderie is unique and valuable, so don't let it slip away. Don't give up, even when something seems impossible.

Positive Role Models & Representations

The three best friends, apparently in their mid-20s, drink a lot of alcohol but are otherwise good role models. Elise is self-involved and feels sorry for herself at first but eventually opens up to the camp experience and to the unexpected turns her life takes. She, Allison, and Maxine take good care of each other through thick and thin.

Violence

One punch in the nose without blood. One fight that's more of a scuffle with rolling on the ground. An accidental cut on a finger with blood.

Sex

A few deep kisses, one of which includes licking the face. Sexual talk between the protagonists is very frank, including the lines, "A 13-year-old girl broke her panties" and "My ovaries just winced." One character wants to have sex to celebrate some good news and lies on top of her partner in bed, over the covers. Back-alley abortions are mentioned as something kids would be involved in if they didn't have camp. Two characters look at another's genitalia and comment on waxing. A sexually transmitted disease is referred to as "the herp."

Language

"S--t" several times. "Bulls--t," "boobs," "suck me," "penis," "perv," "butt crack," and "bitch" once or twice each. "Maxi pad" is used as a nickname several times and leads to a joke about tampons. Several middle-finger gestures and jokes.

Consumerism

Several laptop computers with the Apple logo. The back of an old truck with "Chevrolet" prominently. Characters mention HBO, Hefty, Vagisil, Slim Jim, Barbie, and Altoids once each; Tater Tots, Twitter, and Reddit several times each.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters drink to excess as a release or escape several times, with mild hangovers afterward. The only consequences are a disheveled appearance and a character reeking of scotch. They also drink one or two shots during the day from a secret stash several times. It's mentioned that a writer sniffed her advance up her nose and that kids would experiment with drugs if they didn't have summer camp. A counselor jokes about how she gets the campers to "give up their weed." Older campers sneak cigarettes, and one is admonished for not hiding it very well. Elise tries to light a cigarette but fails and throws it down.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Camp Takota is a well-intentioned love letter to summer camp produced by and starring the popular YouTube personalities behind "My Drunk Kitchen," "DailyGrace," and "You Deserve a Drink." As you would expect, it frequently shows drinking and drunk behavior, usually as a release or escape, sometimes played for laughs, and overall it's glamorized as harmless fun for adults. There's frank sex talk and lots of innuendo. Language is mild overall, but "s--t" is used several times; "bitch" and "bulls--t" are used once each. Expect some middle-finger gestures. Older campers sneak cigarettes. Body-function humor surfaces in several bed-wetting jokes, and "maxi pad" is used as a nickname several times.

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User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byShiela T. January 9, 2018

age 11+

CAMP TAKOTA RULES MY WORLD!!!!

A wholesome family movie that will not only make you laugh uncontrollably, but also make you cry. Despite the alcohol, it is the type of movie that can be enjoy... Continue reading

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Parent of a 13-year-old Written byMomNom October 23, 2017

age 14+

Emotionally Uneven Movie, But I Still Totally Loved it! Boop Boop!

As a HUGE fan of Hannah Hart, I really wanted to see this movie. I really wanted to love it... but I was also really afraid that I wouldn't. Ultimately, I... Continue reading

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Teen, 15 years old Written byelissaroberts July 19, 2015

age 13+

Misleading Information

I believe that some of the information in the full review should be reconsidered. It seemed to me that the movie is more about adult female friendship than anyt... Continue reading

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Teen, 15 years old Written byOlivia-C-R15 April 17, 2016

age 14+

Really good film

I personally extremely enjoyed Camp Takota (although I may be a bit bias as i have been watching the stars of the film for several years now) its not a film you... Continue reading

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What's the story?

With Elise's (Grace Helbig) career and love life in ruins, she decides to get away from things for a while by taking a job as a counselor at Camp Takota, where she was a camper herself. While she's there she reconnects with her two best friends from camp, Allison (Hannha Hart) and Maxine (Mamrie Hart), who are now staffers themselves. Elise starts to heal and get back to her old self, thanks to the support of her old friends and thanks to the handsome farmer who lives nearby and supplies fresh produce to the camp kitchens. But this may be the last summer for Camp Takota. If they can't get enrollment up for next year, the camp will be torn down by the owner's slimy son. Can the three friends save Camp Takota -- and themselves?

Is it any good?

Although well-intentioned, CAMP TAKOTA does way too much telling and not enough showing. The special bond that comes from being at camp together is mentioned a lot, but we rarely get to see it actually happening, and overall the movie falls emotionally flat. Fans of summer camp who've already experienced this unique feeling may be disappointed in the pale reflections presented here. Fans of Grace Helbig and Hannah and Mamrie Hart may be disappointed, too, because the three actresses play characters -- with varying levels of success -- who are very different from their YouTube channel personas. The jokes will mostly resonate with young adults -- also to varying degrees of success. Pass.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about summer camp. Have you ever been to sleepaway camp? Does this movie make you want to go to summer camp?
Camp Takota makes drinking look pretty fun. What's the harm in movies showing that kind of attitude toward alcohol?
Why do you think popular YouTube personalities made this movie? Why not just keep doing YouTube shows?

Movie details

On DVD or streaming: February 14, 2014
Cast: Grace Helbig, Hannah Hart, Mamrie Hart
Directors: Chris Riedell, Nick Riedell
Studio: RockStream Studios
Genre: Comedy
Topics: Friendship
Run time: 95 minutes
MPAA rating: NR
Last updated: September 21, 2019

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