Want more recommendations for your family?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration
Fred 3: Camp Fred
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Hyper teen's third movie has worthy themes for tweens.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
WAAAAY TOO MUCH SEX
Report this review
Fred
Report this review
What's the Story?
YouTube star Fred Figglehorn (Lucas Cruikshank) returns to the screen in FRED 3: CAMP FRED, a wacky journey through the hyper teen's first experience at summer camp. When his mom (Siobhan Fallon Hogan) deems Fred's idyllic choice of camps, Camp Superior, too pricey, she registers him instead for its dilapidated next-door neighbor, Camp Iwannapeepee. After an unsuccessful escape attempt, Fred resigns himself to six weeks of roughing it in extreme style, but he falls in with an endearing group of misfits who show him the ropes of surviving the summer. Inspired by his new friends, Fred signs up for the Summer Camp Games, an annual, traditionally one-sided battle against Camp Superior that turns out to be the ultimate face-off against his longtime nemesis, Kevin (Jake Weary).
Is It Any Good?
The third time's a charm for this scrawny, squeaky-voiced character, who rose from Internet fame to star in a wildly popular movie franchise. Whereas the previous Fred films stumbled over some parent-disapproved content, Camp Fred makes an impressive effort to stick to a storyline that parents won't just tolerate -- they may actually like it. Fred evolves from his typical outcast role to become a valued friend and eventually a team leader, all because of his unwillingness to give into pressure to change how he looks, acts, or (perhaps, regretfully) sounds. In so doing, he inspires his new friends to take more pride in their own uniqueness, too.
That's not to say Camp Fred dispenses with all of the, um, charm that's made Fred such a hit among tweens. He's still a little off his rocker, he still butts heads with his lethargic, man-crazy mom, and he's still prone to oversized tantrums when things don't go his way. But, happily, shipping him off to summer camp seems to have worked small miracles on his demeanor, which is good news for the parents of his faithful fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Fred's character. Why do you think he's so popular among tweens? Is anything about his lifestyle realistic? Have you seen his previous movies and show? How does Fred 3 compare?
Tweens: What role does the Internet play in guiding our likes and dislikes? Would Fred have been such a hit if he had first shown up on TV rather than on YouTube? What are some disadvantages to our media-saturated culture?
Do you ever feel like a misfit? What makes you different from your friends? Do these qualities feel like a good thing or a disadvantage? When is it good to stand out from the crowd?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: December 4, 2012
- Cast: Jake Weary , Lucas Cruikshank , Tom Arnold
- Director: Jonathan Judge
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 80 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 16, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
The Best Summer Camp Movies for Kids
Best Classic Comedy Films
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate