Summerhood (2008) User Reviews

An interesting, yet flawed, summer camp movie

[caiged · 6/10 · 9 September 2012]

While this is one of those feel good movies involving young children, this is a more earnest and, to a vast extent, less cliché, than other movies of its kind. The dialog is less refined, and just something that would be expected to be uttered by kids in real life.

The performances by the kids were adequate. I didn't feel that one stood out more than the other, as it seemed that the director was content to let the story take the main stage. Even though the movie's essentially about Fetus and his epiphanies at the summer camp it didn't really focus on Fetus all the time. Rather, it meandered away from him, and I feel that this is where a flaw occurred. There was no proper focus so I couldn't really connect with Fetus at times. Thankfully, his attraction towards Sundae was not one of those moments, though sadly it wasn't properly developed. Some of the dialog was muffled and didn't make sense in tying it to the story.

Having said that Summerhood is still a movie worth watching. There are some laugh aloud moments, some poignant moments, and some moments that will make you reflect about your best summer, or your first kiss, or when life really began for you. Don't let this movie pass you by.

OK - Better Than Meatballs 2

[foo_10019 · 6/10 · 4 May 2015]

Canadian with rich dad and big aspirations writes, produces, directs, and stars in a Meatballs camp-hi-jinx derivative with himself in the cool counselor, i.e., Bill Murray, role. A bit raunchier and pottier-mouther than Meatballs and some of the sound quality is pretty amateur; some of the kids' lines are pretty muffled. Great soundtrack and narration by John Cusack save it from a lower rating.

Flaherty is hapless camp director and McDonald plays well his comic villain role a la Shooter McGavin. Tripper and Rudy, ah, I mean, Careless and Fetus get their respective girls. Cute but derivative. Still better than Meatballs 2, et seq.

This movie makes me want to be 10 again

[se7en187 · 10/10 · 15 June 2008]

I saw this at the Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck, Michigan.

What a wonderful film, so much fun and entertaining. It's the basic story of children at a summer camp and how they spend their time there. But the cast is just so great, it's obvious everyone was having a blast making it.

The film stars Lucian Masel as Fetus, a little kid at camp who has a crush on Sundae (Reva Timbers) one of the girls there. It focuses on Fetus and the rest of the kids from his cabin as they go through crazy antics and adventures and trying to avoid getting caught by the camp Assistant Director (Christopher McDonald in a great performance).

There were just so many fun moments throughout this film, all of the characters were great, with their hysterical names and personalities (Fetus, Reckless, Careless, Grandpa, The Raincoat Kid). And the dialogue sounds like what the kids would actually say and not like it was just written for them. Oh, and the soundtrack was just perfect, great uses of songs and perfectly placed during each of the scenes.

This film was one of the best at the festival. Actor Scott Beaudin who played Reckless was at the screening for a Q&A and he told some nice stories about the making of the film and how all of the cast had a great time working on it. I hope to see many of these young actors in future projects.

Narrated by John Cusack, Summerhood is an extremely entertaining comedy that's another wonderful addition to the summer camp comedies. Everyone should check this film out.

Sorrowful collection of unfunny

[cekadah · 1/10 · 7 July 2014]

Not one funny scene and yet every scene tries to be funny! This movie is a choppy collection of 'kids at summer camp misbehaving' and trying to be lovable rapscallions but it fails at every turn.

The plot is questionable due to it's constant meandering between the love interest with that too tall girl and 'the boys shenanigans' .... dead end!

The counselors are stoned or just lost in how to portray their character. Then the four daughters ....really? I thought this was a kids movie.

Don't waste your money - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great family movie, very enjoyable.

[jeepmjw-955-821483 · 8/10 · 15 April 2014]

Someone wrote a review stating it's about four best friends that hate each other, this simply isn't the case and I think this person has forgotten their childhood.

This movie was very well written and even better directed.

The actors (especially the kids)did a wonderful job of recreating that feeling you only get as a child.

Kids are quite literally 'innocence personified' and this movie captures that very well, I recall my childhood and I regret trying to grow up too fast. I watched this movie and it took me right back to the first time I held a girls hand, my first kiss etc, and learning the terminology of (mostly cruel)sayings that eventually help us grow.

I'm not a child of the 80's rather a child of the 70's but there is still enough child left in me to grab this movie with both hands and become completely involved with it and remember all those years ago when the seed of things that make us who we are today was planted.

Summer camp when I was a kid was not overseen by older kids (our peers) if you will, and I think this movie touched on that whole generation gap feeling you have when you're little and someone only five years older seems old and wise, these 'watchers' were not discouraging these kids to do what they wanted, rather they advised the kids and that's how it was for me, the ever so 'older and wiser' offering me advice that was of course for the most part naive and or made up.

I'm not going to ruin this movie for others by including a spoiler, this is a movie to sit with your wife and kids, and your parents and watch their faces twinge as they too recall those little awkward moments.

I truly loved this movie and although I watched this on my own, you can make book I will watch it again with my now adult children to see their reactions.

Musical score is brilliant as is the narration by John Cusack, he has a great voice for this movies narration.

There are a couple of reasons I didn't score a 10 on this film, but I'm sure those who view will know why I didn't go the extra couple of yards.

All in all a great movie that for me only brought back fond memories of my misspent youth. Loved it. 8/10

Ignore This and Watch Meatballs.

[anaconda-40658 · 1/10 · 16 November 2015]

Summerhood (2008): Dir: Jacob Medjuck, Tony Dean Smith / Cast: Scott Beaudin, Raquel Alessi, Jesse Cammacho, Joe Flaherty, Christopher McDonald: Independent summer teen camp comedy that reflects on those innocent days of yesteryear where the door is open just a crack for the next phase of life. Unfortunately this lacks the memorable characters and funny situations that rendered Meatballs such a popular summer comedy. The big issue that directors Jacob Medjuck and Tony Dean Smith heave at us is the romantic hints between underage characters. In reflection, most of us view summer camp at the age of these characters as being anything but parading after girls. Meatballs did this but it was between the counselors and their social hyjinks. It has the total opposite affect here and comes off as creepy as oppose to funny. It also doesn't help that none of these characters are remotely memorable. Even the presence of Joe Flaherty and Christopher McDonald cannot help breath new life into tired retreads. The kids have about as much life as the average store window mannequin. It fails to teach anything about growing up whereas Meatballs bore humour from experience. What we have here looks less impressive than your neighbor's vacation slides. Best advice is to watch Meatballs and try to lose the ugly memory of this drab film ever being in existence. Score: 1 / 10

2008 Maui film festival

[blue_klutch · 10/10 · 17 June 2008]

I saw Summerhood at the 2008 Maui film festival. By far one of the best movies played. The time of the movie was set in the late 80's to early 90's. I was about the same age as the kids in the early 90's.A great job was done with the fine details to fit this strange place in time were the 80's ended and the 90's began.(the ninja turtles references made my night!) This movie is truly a instant classic if you grew up in this time. More movies should be made with this kind of truth and honesty about kids at this age. I knew way more than my parents ever thought I did. I'm sure kids today know even more. Its time we wake up to the fact that kids are not as innocent as we make them out to be. The child actors were great,it really felt like the words belonged to the kids not a script. Good work everyone who worked on this film...............ALOHA

Kid's Movie for Grown-Ups or Grown-Up Movie for Kids

[a-36482 · 10/10 · 13 January 2024]

Pubes, kissing and hand jobs are all a part of camp in the coming of age film "Summerhood" where the characters are adults in kid skin costumes.

The film is a laugh a second ride of a great story combined with stellar acting and direction from Jacob Medjuck who also co-starred in the movie. Based at a summer camp where the inhabitants are children under the age of 12 or so the story follows one group of friends who share the same cabin. When not arguing or throwing around f-bombs or other various curse words the kids are scheming and getting along nicely. None of the characters have real names. Instead they have given nicknames such as Fetus, Reckless and Sundae. With most films at the Santa Barbara Film Festival being dramatic, foreign or unheard of "Summerhood" brings something new and different. With a simple concept it's not trying to be experimental or edgy, shocking or dark. This is a great movie that moves, inspires and makes you laugh with genuine chuckles.

The acting is superb. Especially from Lucian Maisel the nine-year-old kid named Fetus. With an accent and voice that belongs to a forty-year-old, Maisel plays the character more grown up than the adults in the flick. His portrayal is sweet and heartbreaking as the awkward kid at camp with a lot of friends and a crush on a fellow camper.

Reckless played by Scott Beaudin plays the sly and suave older kid in the cabin with a lot to say and a lot of ideas. The one day legend, the kid roams with his curly hair and baseball T with a self approved sense of achievement.

Medjuck plays the lazy legend Careless who after a risky pant less stunt is placed on job as being camp counselor to Fetus's cabin. While he is a grown man who at first appears to be a half-hearted person, surprises as he provides the campers with a shimmer of life and support.

The design of the camp is perfect and eccentric. The whole camp is covered in a sweet graffiti as the cabins are strewn with the camper's belongings and own personal touches from the clothes to the rafters where the kids sit and play.

With the script littered with cussing and sexual language the dialogue is quick and hilarious. With some great life lessons and intellect coming form the kids and Careless, The skin can't help but prickle with goose-bumps as you listen to the words in the simple scenes.

The relationship of the actors are so relaxed that it feels as if they have spent summer after summer together at camp before making the movie. The cinematography is usually bright and sunny capturing the day. Shots of the bridge at night are almost magical and awe inducing as the opening scene shows Careless and his friend sword fighting with broom sticks.

If looking forward to a film to appear at the best of the fest "Summerhood" is one that shouldn't be missed. It has loads of sprit, comedy and entertainment without being over done or cheesy. Nothing bad can be said about this genuine film.