Camp Cucamonga

Man oh man. This movie is really only for those sentimental about the time when pink Bugle Boy shirts were socially acceptable. Plot is evidently not all that important to the makers of this one, but what *is* important is squeezing in as many B-celebrities as possible without going over budget. All of Candace Cameron, (a then unknown) Jennifer Aniston, The Infathomable Breckin Meyer, Jaleel UPN White, John Ratzenberger, The Nerd From The Wonder Years, Good Winnie Hunting, and a whoooole bunch of other people you might recognize from TGIF. I sat there wondering when Dabney Coleman and Leslie Nielson were going to show up.

It's about a camp. It's about some American youth. Who sing. Sing. Sing!!!!

Recommended for sarcastic teenagers who have nothing to make fun of.

Of course, some producers just had to make a movie where all the child stars could gather and congregate. Well, they managed to rope in Candace Cameron (DJ Tanner, "Full House"), Danica McKellar (Winnie, "The Wonder Years"), Jaleel White (Urkel-need I say more?), and Josh Saviano (Paul, "The Wonder Years), whom I might add wallowed in his infatuation with Danica's character the whole movie...isn't this just because the producers knew them from "The Wonder Years" and decided to pair them up? Wouldn't Kevin Arnold be jealous? It was different seeing Winnie be bad, Urkel have 20-20 vision, DJ be a brat, Paul be not so different. Of course, I can't not mention Ava, or as we all know her, Rachel Green. Yes, Ava was played by a then-unknown Jennifer Aniston. Not her worst performance, as the same for everyone. Now, most have them have retreated into child star post-sitcom fade, having all been scraped to the "Where Are They Now?" dustpan, but it's better that they faded for the most part, rather than having to create another summer camp haven for them.

Okay I don't even know why I remember this movie so well, but when I was younger I remember my friend having taped it from TV and every time she came over I said "Bring Camp Cucamonga!!" I loved all the actors, I loved the whole script, and mostly I think it reminded me of my summers every year at summer camp. And the song they sang for the video scene is very catchy, and I still remember the words. I wish I could get a copy of the movie, even now as an adult, I am sorry to say I would watch it all the time.

I'm probably the only one in Sweden who has seen this, although I bought it on a British VHS PAL copy actually. I think I found out about it when I searched for Jennifer Aniston movies on Imdb. I always look for funny, low budget camp movies and this one, I have to say, is the best one I've seen yet. Or maybe second after "Meatballs".

Anyway, horrible clothes, bad lines, bad acting, embarrassing music, famous actors before they got famous, what more could you look for in a camp movie!?

The big plus for this flick is that Jennifer Aniston is in it, looking very cute. Unfortunately she has a very boring part, being the polite daughter of the camp owner. And Danica McKellar and Josh Saviano took some time off from "Wonder Years" to star as the, dare I say, main characters of the movie. Danica is some sort of a tough girl who is somewhat weak below the surface, and Josh is trying to date her. He is very much like Paul Pfeiffer in the Wonder Years here, only more energetic. Also, watch for Breckin Meyer and Jaleel White (who raps brilliantly in the Cucamonga video!).

The Danica and Josh "romance" (she isn't interested in him at all) is one of the main stories in the movie. A second one is where the camp is visited by a camp supervisor and a caretaker, and the camp owner mixes them up. Then there is a minor fling between Jennifer and one of the male camp leaders, and this story could have been developed more. But then again, Danica, Josh and Jaleel were probably bigger stars then than Jennifer so I can partly understand the filmmakers move.

Altogether this is a fun and lighthearted movie who mixes comedy and drama perfectly. It doesn't try to be something it isn't. Watch it if you get the chance! I also understand it is something of a nostalgia trip for some people in the States, however I am a little too young for it and grew up on the wrong side of the world. I don't think that this film has been released on DVD and I don't believe it's ever going to be screened on European television, so if you want to see it, and you don't live in the States, you will have to go through the same procedure I did.

This movie is my greatest childhood movie memory!! I loved the whole movie, my brother recorded it for me and i watched it over a 100 times!! But then tragedy happened, my brother had to find a tape to record his fave tv show. Yea you all know where this is going!! He TAPED OVER MY MOST FAVORITE MOVIE IN THE WORLD!! You can imagine how upset I was when I turned on my Fave movie for the umpteenth time and there was (i dont remember the show) but it wasnt Camp Cuckamunga!! SO i am so happy it is on DVD now to buy!! Whoever says this movie isnt good SUCKS!! I would recommend this movie anyone who is 18-26 cause those are the people who will appreciate it more!