Parents' Guide to

Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp

By Jenny Nixon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Absurd but amiable nostalgia trip only lukewarm.

TV Netflix Comedy 2015
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Boasting an all-star cast of modern comedy greats, the series relies so heavily on the stale nostalgia angle -- without offering much else -- that it comes off like an extended and slightly pointless improv exercise. Much of the original film's humor came from the fact that a cast of 20- and 30somethings were playing teenagers. This time around, the cast is even older and even less believable, and their characters are two months younger. The performers, which include many newcomers (Jordan Peele, Michael Cera, Jon Hamm) making cameo appearances, are likable enough, and there's definitely a curiosity factor involved in seeing them pick up these roles again so long after the movie.

But the humor itself is rambling and can be seriously repetitive with all the callbacks and in-jokes referencing things that happen in the film (which probably seem nonsensical and bizarre if you haven't seen it). It's not really enough to parody a genre and make lazy jokes about Tab soda and Ronald Reagan if there's nothing more substantial being brought to the table. It mainly seems like an excuse to allow some awesome actors to basically workshop stuff on camera, which has its charm, but a bit more structure and direction would have gone a long way. Still, if you've been waiting 14 years to see that talking can of vegetables again, you won't be disappointed.

TV Details

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.

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