Parents' Guide to Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later

With a feature film and now 16 television episodes under it's proverbial belt, it's safe to say the well has run dry on this particular franchise. The original Wet Hot movie was a bomb back in 2001, yet became a cult classic -- not only because it was an absurdist parody of 1980s teen sex comedies, but in part because it gave us an early peek at an ensemble cast that nearly all went on to do big things in Hollywood. The cast then reunited 14 years later for the prequel series, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day at Camp. Reassembling stars like Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, Bradley Cooper, and Paul Rudd (now in their 40s) and having them reprise their roles as teenagers had an inherent humor and curiosity factor that helped buoy the series' duller moments. But to now return to Camp Firewood for a third time, for a series with the same basic plot as the last one (the camp is in danger ... again) just feels repetitive and indulgent. As intentionally and charmingly dumb as the movie and previous series were, there were still some kinda-sweet relationships you rooted for that kept things just a tiny bit grounded, and of course the cast is talented -- but this time around, Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later buckles under the weight of far too many special guest stars and pointless subplots.