Good story, Not enough for a whole film

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

This is another childhood gem of mine, it's probably number 9 in the vacation comedy subgenre since it kind of falls into that category, it takes place at a summer camp, so it counts. This is one of those film I like to watch as summer is starting up or sometimes around the other seasons, so I can remember summer time and the good times at that time or remind myself it's not that far off. What made it unique at the time was that it was a comedy that was focused on summer camp which we never really had at the time. This film defiantly got the camp comedy genre going as afterward there have been numerous others that have followed and might have been a partial inspiration to the TV show "Salute your Shorts".This film in a way is kind of like "Animal House" but in summer camp as Camp NorthStar seems to consist of the rag tag bunch which I like because that kind of group is health as it consists of people that are all unique and real community. What I really like about most of the cast in this film are they all look like ordinary everyday people so you're not going to spot anyone from the CW around. This I feel gives the film feel grounded in reality and really helps the relatability factor. This film also in a way is sort of like a journal as we watch it we can easily recall some of our past times when we gone to camp, from seeing some of these characters engage in a wild antic or two or even the games that camps engage in, just a lot of things that really bring you back.The only bad thing about the film is lack of a solid memorable ensemble which I felt the film could have benefited from even more. Not many characters really stand out, they're not bad there are a few that are memorable like Spaz and Fink both are a good comic duo, there is a good back and forth. Kate Lynch she was alright as Roxanne whom is Tripp's significant other and was someone that was trying to keep things running right. Harvey Atkin as Morty whom sort of looks like Groucho Marx is always getting his authority undermined and Tripp and the rest of the colorful councilors they play some pranks on him to give him grief.To me the character that really stands out and I also feel really drives this film is Bill Murray as Tripp. This film was practically his debut in the lead role and it was a good start as it really shows his comedic chops, which he does so flawlessly well. I really like that his character is one that doesn't like or want to follow the rules except his own. He really does care about the people in the camp and want them along with himself to simply have a good time which is what summer camps were built for anyway. However, one other thing I like about him is he never wants anyone to feel down.There is this little plotline on the rivalry with Camp Mohawk which are supposedly the camp that is better and higher up, which also means it's jerk central. There is a scene where camp is playing Basketball against Mohawk, I wouldn't really call it a game it was more like a massacre as most of the personal in camp lets just say make novices in the game look like champs, it's sad but true; however despite their losing dilemma Tripp doesn't let this get them down as they all let's just say made Basketball history.There are lots of great memorable scenes like Tripp telling an urban legend on the campfire which I'll admit got me going for a while, it was just a good scene on build up and pay off. The dance social seeing him do some dance moves which he improvised. And of course, there is the inspirational speech scene which you have to see for yourself Bill is just at his best in that one. Like any good summer camp this is a film worth visiting.Rating: 3 and a half stars

Meatballs is a superior movie! This silly wonderful flick makes my summer. The counsellors in the film are familiar, the parallels to real camp staff are amazing. The Canadian Wilderness is also quaint and warm, and haunts me like a sensory memory. Bill Murray is, well, Bill Murray, in life and in the movie. Sweet, funny, considerate and embracing, Bill never disappoints. This is a slice of life/coming of age movie that represents so many aspects of youth that are difficult but survivable. The acting is real and believable, the watcher feels for their issues and celebrates their wins. Worth watching, over and over, this sweet movie is something to smile about.

Nostalgic and funny comedy has Bill Murray playing Tripper, a wacky summer camp counselor who, when he isn't trying to romance all the female counselors, is trying to help a sad boy(Chris Makepeace) who doesn't want to be there, and who isn't popular. Also features other assorted characters like "Spaz" for instance. Then there is the rival summer camp where the rich kids go, and whom Tripper badly wants to show up.This could have been just another crass, predictable comedy, but this has a surprising amount of heart and empathy, and by the end, you may get just as misty eyed about it being over as the campers! Of course, all the viewer has to do is replay the DVD.

"Meatballs" is the "Citizen Kane" of cheesy summer camp comedies, and you can interpret that any way you want to. Every cliché you know and love about this sub-genre originated right here. The good wholesome camp having to compete against a cheating camp: it's in here. The rebel camp counselor who's constantly playing pranks and for some reason always looks at least 10 years too old for the part: "Meatballs" did it first. The hapless geeks that get to do something heroic before the credits roll: well that had probably been done before, but "Meatballs" does is very well too. Is "Meatballs" actually good? Probably not, but it does fill you with a sort of nostalgic feeling to whenever the hell people thought wearing those shorts was a good idea. And it's pretty funny too, particularly all the absurd stuff Bill Murray says over the intercom. Some characters are very bland and could have been written out altogether (I would call them by their names if I remembered them), but the whole Tripper/Rudy dynamic is actually done very well and really makes the movie stand out among its countless copies. One thing though: anyone know how I get that goddamn soundtrack out of my head?