Wet Hot American Summer

review by Chris Martin of Janeane.info

“Wet Hot American Summer” is cheerfully anarchic and subversive of MSM (Mainstream Mores). It’s not “Animal House” but what is? Is it better than “Meatballs”? – you decide. Overall, with the expletives deleted, this would have been a made-for-cable or network movie-of-the-week rather than a “Stripes” or “Caddyshack.”

Damn the eyes of the idiot who cast Janeane as a frump. We suspect most of her fans aren’t interested in seeing her that way, which may partially explain the low box office take for “Wet Hot.”

The deleted scenes/blooper reel has some scenes that actually shouldn’t have been deleted, i.e. more footage of Capture the Flag sequence. The deleted scenes have commentary by co-producer and director David Wain and co-producer Michael Showalter. Influences on the movie besides “Animal House”: “NYPD Blue.” Two deleted scenes feature men’s bare bums. Also deleted are amusing scenes with who channels Bluto Blutarsky.

DVD extras include the movie’s four original songs, generic eighties-style rock ‘n’ rap, an example of where a bigger budget would have benefited the movie, i.e. more money to spend on better song rights. The songs are forgettable except for the guitar solo. There aren’t enough production stills of Janeane (hey, this is Janeane.info) though there is one with her David Hyde-Pierce locking lips. This is not a low-budget Janeane Garofalo movie that’s going to get people to want to buy the sound track, unlike “Nadine in Date Land.” Talking about low budget, I’ve seen slicker credits at the local indie film showcase but maybe that’s the point.

The biggest extra is behind-the-scenes footage with Janeane Garofalo in a bikini. However, if you’re expecting something like Phoebe Cates emerging from the pool in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” you’ll be disappointed. It’s more like home movie footage.

Janeane Garofalo is deadpan and endearing, as is her wont. The commentary by Janeane is witty and erudite (surprise! Surprise!)

Our editorial position at Janeane.info is perfectly clear: any movie with teen sex and Janeane Garofalo can’t be all bad. Given a choice between a high-budget movie with minimal Janeane and a barebones flick with lots of Janeane, you know where we stand.

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Short stuff

Q: ... do you ever get the feeling that, Hey, I'm working on a really bad movie.

A: Movie are terrifically optimistic enterprises. If you come into the makeup trailer and you say to the hair person, "Did you go to the dailies?" I've never heard anybody say, "They weren't very good." It's alway, "Oh, my God! It's electrifying!"

-- Christopher Walken in Details magazine

DIY 

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