Review: Wet Hot American Summer: First Day at Camp; Awesome Come-back for a Cult Classic

I have fond memories of seeing Wet Hot American Summer with my friend Elizabeth Toal during my freshman year at Stephens College in 2001. We saw the movie at the RagTag Theater, a small local theater in downtown Columbia, Missouri that showed off-beat, artsy, and indie movies. The movie had us crying and laughing out loud. Another gentleman who was sitting in front of us was also dying laughing. The rest of the audience did not find it as hilarious as we did but I'm truly happy that this film grew enough of a cult following that Netflix and the entire cast from the movie decided to create a TV series as a prequel.

Wet Hot American Summer: First Day at Camp takes place 8 weeks before the 2001 film takes place on the first day of camp (the film takes place on the last day of camp). The TV series is just as quirky, raunchy, and campy as the original movie, with a lot twists and turns and new characters introduced who were not in the movie (i.e. John Hamm, Michael Cera, Jordan Peele, and Jason Schwartzman). There are lots of allusions to the movie in the lines and sequences that are used by the cast (ie Victor constantly running away from someone), and even in the ultra-cheesy theme song from the movie "Higher and Higher". We see how Ron and Gail met, who Lindsay really is, how Katie and Andy started going out, and perhaps the most important thing, the story behind Gene's talking can of vegetables. I LOVED IT! I love how all of the original cast signed on, even with so many of them being huge stars presently (ie Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Rudd, etc).

 I feel kind of sad for Michael Showalter who played Coop, who was notably the only actor who looks physically different (he's put on a few extra pounds, but what do you expect in that it's been 14 years since the movie came out). This is an excellent 8-episode season that hopefully won't be the last time we visit the summer of 1981 at Camp Firewood. And hopefully we won't have to wait 14 years for its return. I can't wait for the next season!