The Summer Camp movie was a popular comedy subgenre throughout the 80s and 90s. The movie that helped kicked it off was the 1979 comedy Meatballs, starring Bill Murray, co-written by Harold Ramis, and directed by Ivan Reitman (the team that would go onto create Stripes and, of course Ghostbusters). Meatballs proved to be such a hit that it spawned three terrible sequels and many rip offs. One of those “rip offs” was the 1985 made for television comedy, Poison Ivy, starring Michael J. Fox and Nancy McKeon. While Poison Ivy is greatly indebted to Meatballs there is a significant difference between the two movies; Meatballs is mainly focused on the exploits of the camp counselors, while the kids (with the exception of Rudi) are mostly background noise. Poison Ivy, on the other hand, is more evenly balanced between the counselors and the boys (it takes place at Camp Pinewood, an all boys’ summer camp). In the context of 1985, the biggest draw for audiences would have been Mi
This is a blog that is devoted entirely to film analysis. I tend to analyze movies in a historical context. What were the cultural trends at the time? Why was the rationale behind the movie? I also tend to write about lesser-known movies, as there really isn't much more that can be said about most mainstream movies. I hope you enjoy!!!