Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hilarious, raunchy parody has sex, profanity, stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Wet Hot American Summer
What's the Story?
WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER is set on August 8, 1981, the last day at Camp Firewood, and everyone is trying for one last shot at love or sex before they go back home. This even includes camp director Beth (Janeane Garofalo), who meets and falls in love with local astrophysics professor Henry Newman (David Hyde Pierce). As the camp counselors, as well as the campers, fall in and out of love while engaging in the final day of activities, Newman discovers that a piece of the NASA space station Skylab is falling straight toward camp. It's up to him and the "inside kids"—those who would rather play Dungeons & Dragons than do outdoor camping activities—to come up with a machine to stop this from happening while everyone's watching the talent show.
Is It Any Good?
This star-studded satire definitely pushes the boundaries, but it's smart in enough ways to make it a cult classic. One of the funniest comedies of the early 2000s, Wet Hot American Summer is still best for older teens and adults due to the profanity and raunchy humor. This doesn't diminish the effectiveness of this parody of early 1980s teen coming-of-age movies; in fact, if this lacked an over-the-top approach, it wouldn't be much of a parody in the first place.
The awareness of the form is nearly perfect, as is the fearlessness in turning it on its ear—such as when the camp has a marriage ceremony for two gay men and celebrates their love, instead of playing it for the shock value or punchline typical of the early 1980s. The impressive cast—including Paul Rudd, Michael Ian Black, Christopher Meloni, Garofalo, Michael Showalter, Elizabeth Banks, Bradley Cooper, Molly Shannon, and Amy Poehler—turn in hilarious performances full of clever details that hold up on repeat viewings.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about parodies like Wet Hot American Summer. What movies is this poking fun at? Consider Meatballs or other summertime coming-of-age movies from the early 1980s. What styles and stereotypes do the filmmakers play with to create comedy?
Does the film turn any stereotypes on their heads? What opinions does it challenge, if any? Why is it important to challenge on-screen stereotypes, even when they're created in the name of "satire"? How can you tell stereotypes and satire apart?
Why do you think there was so much profanity and so many sexual references? Do you think that was necessary to parody the original movies, or did any of it seem gratuitous?
The movie has inspired two TV shows that feature many of the same characters and actors. Have you seen either of them? How do they compare? What might some of the advantages and challenges be of adapting films into TV shows?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 19, 2001
- On DVD or streaming : August 13, 2002
- Cast : Janeane Garofalo , Paul Rudd , Michael Showalter
- Director : David Wain
- Studio : Universal Studios
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Strong sexual content, language and a drug sequence.
- Last updated : August 17, 2026
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