Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Skunk-centered camp comedy is tame but sort of a stinker.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Stinky Summer
What's the Story?
In STINKY SUMMER, Olivia (Oakley Bull) isn't too excited about spending a week at the rule-heavy Camp Clover, so her tech-genius dad creates an app for her tablet to keep her interested in camp activities. Camp life gets more exciting when Olivia discovers a baby skunk in her duffel bag, and she and her bunkmates bond over keeping it a secret from the watchful eye of their camp counselor (Towanda Underdue). But when international spies realize that Olivia's tablet holds the secrets to a groundbreaking program her dad is developing, they infiltrate the camp, unaware that the girls are wielding a secret, smelly weapon.
Is It Any Good?
Just like the adorable skunk puppet standing in for the real animal, this kids' comedy is cute but hard to enjoy because you're always aware of the invisible hands manipulating the filmmaking. Nothing is exceptional in Stinky Summer—the bare-bones set design indicates the lack of budget and creativity, the dialogue is bland, and some of the kids just don't seem ready for feature film acting. And the fact that the baddies are ridiculous is appropriate in a comedy for young children, but the effect is chaos. Plus, sometimes the movie just plain doesn't make sense. For instance, during the melee in which the campers fight back against the "international spies," one villain is suddenly wearing a youth size 12 pink leotard without explanation. It's this kind of sloppiness that makes for a bad movie, and, yep, ends up making this one live up to its title.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Stinky Summer compares to other family films about kids bonding with wild animals. Why do you think audiences enjoy seeing these types of human-nature connections?
Why was it important to Olivia to get skunk Kit back home instead of letting him loose in the wild? Why is compassion an important character strength?
Did you learn anything new or surprising about skunks? What will you take away from this movie?
The story idea came from the producer's tween daughter, and she and her sisters have parts in the film. If you were going to make a movie with your family, what would it be about, and what roles would you all take in front of and behind the camera?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 6, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : September 10, 2024
- Cast : Francesca Capaldi , Oakley Bull , Helen Day
- Director : Amanda Raymond
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Epic Pictures Releasing
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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