Camp Cucamonga (1990)

If it wasn't for nostalgia reasons I wouldn't even mind writing a review for this. "Camp Cucamonga" is a strange example of how a movie displays the period of time when it was filmed. The movie came out in 1990 when still the 80's fashion, music, ideals, etc. were a huge influence. The movie is filled with cheesy jokes, bright colors in every scene, cheesy music, etc.This is my perfect example of a movie that shouldn't be recycled. I mean, "Camp Cucamonga" should have been destroyed after it's 1990 release. It just doesn't fit in the new millennium. It's not even ultra cheesy by today.Anyways, when I was a kid I watched it on it's original release date and I recall watching it when it re-runed on cable. I remember that the main "dramatic" situation was surrounded with dumb sub-plots involving a nerd in love with a cute girl, the typical bitchy spoiled blonde girl who couldn't stop her boyfriend from pretending the cute girl, the anti-cool black nerd kid, and the horny male counselor who always tried to hit on Jennifer Aniston (I'd like to know her opinion towards this movie!).Anyways, this movie was fun and "cool" on it's time. I liked it and I'm not ashamed of admitting that I enjoyed it back in 1990. But objectively, it's a super cheese effort for kids."Camp Cucamonga" should only exist in the minds and hearts of people who watched in it the 90's. People who watched it after the 90's are on their right to bash it. The rap song was very catchy though! "Cucamonga, oh yeah, oh yeah, come to camp cucamonga".By the way, the IMDb movie recommendation is totally absurd. "Sleepaway Camp"? Seriously, have they even watched it?!

I heard about this film known as "One of Jennifer Aniston's" firsts, and read some reviews that it was a good Camp movie for kids, and it was fun, cute, and like "Space balls" in the 80's. So after much consideration I decided, why not? and ordered it in on DVD at the store. It was worth $21 I watched it down in my room, and was amazed because this was one of the first films done in this fashion of summer fun, and tricks and romance. It had a very famous cast, and the now famous Jennifer Aniston from "Friends". She looked different( but hasn't aged much) and I liked how she played a safe young women, who wanted to do everything rigth in order to help her Dad.Another known face in this flick was Cameron Candice from the 90's sitcom/show "Fullhouse". This movie is worth a view, very fun for a family movie night.

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.

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.