This 1993 comedy-drama tells about a group of friends that return to a summer camp after 20 years for a reunion and learn that it's going to close down. In the process, they reminisce and learn new things about one another. Alan Arkin, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Pollak, Sam Raimi and the late, Bill Paxton are featured. This is a pretty good flick with wacky and dramatic moments featuring a decent cast and beautiful scenery. Give this a view, especially if you think about your childhood.

Unca Lou Handler (Alan Arkin) runs Camp Tamakwa in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada. He invites some of campers from the golden age of the camp. Matthew Berman (Vincent Spano) is married to Kelly (Julie Warner) and runs clothing company Roots with his cousin Brad Berman (Kevin Pollak). Jack Belston (Bill Paxton) is drifting and holding an old grudge. Jamie Ross (Matt Craven) is dating 21 year old Gwen Daugherty (Kimberly Williams-Paisley). Jennifer Morton (Elizabeth Perkins) is single and Beth Warden (Diane Lane) is still struggling after her husband's death a year ago. Stick Coder (Sam Raimi) is the bumbling handyman. The group reminisce about the past, pulling pranks and reconnecting with each other. However a dark episode from the past with counselor Sam Grover haunts Jack and Unca Lou. It's also the last summer for Lou who can't seem to connect with today's kids.Writer/director Mike Binder brings his childhood memories to the screen. It's 'The Big Chill' with a little bit of Meatballs. It's high on nostalgia especially for adults who had camp experience. It is a bunch of middle age white people who are reminiscing about their youth and that's the Big Chill part. I can do without the Roots product placement which takes me out of the movie sometimes. It's not as bad as Bud Light in Transformers but that's the worst of the lot. The story is nice and I like most of the actors. Sam Raimi tries to be funny and does his best. Alan Arkin is absolutely great. It's a very good time at camp and reminds me of my camp experience.

This is one of those movies that can be watched over and over again. Its endearing, funny, silly, emotional and heartrending. Its fun to see the players reverting back to their adolescent selves and the getting beyond that. Its amazing how Mike Binder, as a young and relatively new writing talent, could generate interest in this piece by some pretty successful actors. Or maybe they went on to be a success?? It was perfectly cast and just as perfectly directed. I especially loved Sam Raimi's portrayal of the mostly silent handy man- Stick. LOL Diane Lane was affecting - as always. Bill Paxton, as the bad boy, Jack, was especially endearing. Out to have a good time but back to right a wrong from the past, his success in doing so was the best part of the movie. his character also taught me a few new naughty deeds! Made me want to go back to camp again.....

If I could go back, even as an adult and relive the days of my Summer's spent at camp...I would be there so fast. The Camps I went to weren't even this great. They were in Texas where the mosquitoes actually carry people off but we had horses and fishing. The movie cinematography was astounding, the characters funny and believable especially Perkins, Pollack and Arkin. Sam Raimi's character and sub-antics were priceless. So who ever thought this movie was lame...I have deep pity for because they can't suspend their disbelief long enough to imagine camp life again as an adult or they never went as kids. The whole point was that these people had an opportunity to regress and become juvenile again and so they did at every opportunity. I wish I could. It was funny, intelligent, beautifully scripted, brilliantly cast and the artistry takes me back so I want to watch it over and over just for the scenery even. Sorta like Dances with Wolves and LadyHawk...good movies but the wilderness becomes a character as much as the actors. Rent it, see it, buy it and watch it over and over and over...never gets old. ;0)