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Bill Murray, Harvey Atkin, Kate Lynch

Wacky hijinks of counselors and campers at a less-than-average summer camp.

Flixster Users

55% liked it

24,590 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

28 critics

PG, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Ivan Reitman

Release Date: January 1, 1979

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DVD Release Date: November 23, 1999

Stats: 706 reviews

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Chris Makepeace Roxanne and Tripper The Meatballs C.I.T.'s Bill Murray Chris Makepeace & Bill Murray Chris Makepeace Kate Lynch Meatballs
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Flixster Reviews (706)

  • thefog1331
    August 10, 2009
    thefog1331
    30 years since its release and I finally got around to seeing it. Painfully 70s but still a mostly funny, surprisingly sweet camp movie.
    I still prefer Stripes though.
  • StaisilD
    August 25, 2008
    StaisilD
    Tripper: "Important announcement - Some hunters have been seen in the woods near Piney Ridge trail and the fish and game commission has raised the legal kill limit on campers to three. So, if you're hiking today, please wear something bright and keep low."

    A coming of age stor...( read more)y about an unpopular kid named Rudy (Chris Makepeace) who goes to a slobby summer camp full of other unpopular kids. The head camp counselor, Tripper Harrison (Bill Murray), excels at playing practical jokes on both his boss and the counselors at the nearby snobby rich kids camp, seducing the cute female counselors, and bolstering the kids self-esteem through unorthodox tactics. Murray, of course, is a big reason why everything here is so entertaining. He's charming and obnoxious and hilarious. He's like Bluto from Animal House with a soul and without the beer gut. The film has something those other movies lack, though: compassion. This is not a vision of young people as heartless tormentors (pro or con), but of gentle goofing and low-impact silliness.

    Tripper: "But, the real excitement of course is going to come at the end of the summer, during Sexual Awareness week. We import two hundred hookers from around the world, and each camper, armed with only a thermos of coffee and two thousand dollars cash, tries to visit as many countries as he can. The winner of course is named King of Sexual Awareness week and is allowed to rape and pillage the neighboring towns until camp ends."
  • clooneyfan
    January 6, 2008
    clooneyfan
    Are those Clorets in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?
  • puffchunk
    October 25, 2007
    puffchunk
    So bad I didn't want it, even for free.
  • markymarkslunggnome
    August 6, 2007
    markymarkslunggnome
    good old skool comedy. Spaz is the man
  • whispersofecstacy
    November 11, 2009
    whispersofecstacy
    Bill Murray at his best. A really great family film and comedy.
  • dan9fromouterspace
    July 7, 2009
    dan9fromouterspace
    The best summer camp movie ever. A great Canadian product this movie manages to be funny & warm-hearted without making me want to puke. NOTE one scene was actually filmed in the parking lot of the K-Mart of my hometown.
  • makenzeeryan95
    May 27, 2009
    makenzeeryan95
    One of the funniest movies you will ever see
  • edmeyer83
    April 14, 2009
    edmeyer83
    Bill Murray is funny as always, but this "classic" is crap...
  • dolphinsandelves
    March 8, 2009
    dolphinsandelves
    this is a great family friendly comedy.

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