Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp

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.