Meatballs (1979)

71% of critics liked it
(28 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(27,570 ratings)

Set at a low-end summer camp and aimed squarely at a teen audience, Meatballs is a light screwball comedy that turned its low-budget Canadian roots into a very profitable box-office run. The biggest reason for the film's success is Bill Murray who stars as Tripper, the head counselor who runs things… More Set at a low-end summer camp and aimed squarely at a teen audience, Meatballs is a light screwball comedy that turned its low-budget Canadian roots into a very profitable box-office run. The biggest reason for the film's success is Bill Murray who stars as Tripper, the head counselor who runs things at Camp Northstar with the help of his love interest Roxanne (Kate Lynch) and the camp's director Morty (Harvey Atkins), who is affectionately known as Mickey. Camp opens with Tripper and Morty preparing the misfit counselors-in-training -- Spaz, Fink, Crockett, A.L., Candace, Wendy, and Wheels among them -- for the arrival of their hyperactive little charges. After settling in, kids and counselors begin their activities with a soccer game in which depressed 11-year-old Rudy (Chris Makepeace) accidentally loses the game. Cast out by the other children, Rudy runs away only to come across Tripper, who befriends the boy and makes him his running partner. Romance, sexy fun, and comic hijinx -- usually with the heavy-sleeping Morty as their target -- lead up to an annual Olympiad in which Camp Northstar battles the wealthier and athletically superior residents of Camp Mohawk. The challenging events include cup stacking, potato-sack racing, and a nauseating hot dog-eating contest in which the portly Fink devours his way to victory. With the two-day event tied up, it comes down to the cross-country run, in which Tripper enters Rudy. Meatballs was the first major directorial effort by multi-talented filmmaker Ivan Reitman, whose name has since become synonymous with the comedy genre. ~ Patrick Legare, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Ivan Reitman
Written By: Janis Allen, Len Blum
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1979 Wide
On DVD: Nov 23, 1999

Critic Reviews

Frank Rich, TIME Magazine
Through it all, Murray smiles and forges ahead, but his big riffs have been edited down to frantic bursts of mugging.
Variety Staff, Variety
It's difficult to come up with a more cliche situation for a summer pic than a summer camp, where all the characters and plot turns are readily imaginable. That makes director Ivan Reitman's accomplishment all the more noteworthy.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
A cheerful, if not particularly deft, summer-camp comedy.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
It doesn't get any funnier than Meatballs!
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
As easy to handle as drinking lemonade under a shady tree.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Bill Murray is the only reason to see this film. His high energy and sensitive acting abilities take this cliche film out of the ordinary and give it the style that did not appear in the script or the direction.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...ultimately just not able to live up to its inexplicable reputation as a minor cult classic.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This special DVD edition of Bill Murray's first starring role, contains a docu, "Summer Camp: The Making of Meatballs," and director Ivan Reitman's commentary, which is quite funny.
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com
Murray has been funnier and far more authoritative during his career, but he was never this joyfully floppy again. Meatballs is the crowning of his doofus glory and a great testament to his once improvisational appeal.
Pete Croatto, Filmcritic.com
you don't mind the lack of structure, especially since it's delivered by a good-natured and good-humored young cast
Derek Adams, Time Out
Camp counsellor Tripper (Murray) is a John Belushi clone whose 'charisma' dominates the film's standard wackiness and sentimental story (of a kid who doesn't fit).
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
It's a classic, but not as good as you might remember.
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Early Murray/Reitman collaboration. "Rudy the Rabbit."
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Murray in fine form, but dated flick
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Has its moments. Murray is funny, as always.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Directors C

[img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] Meatballs is by no means, an Ivan Reitman/Bill Murray classic. However, it has got quite a few funny moments and an energetic Murray leading the camp. The best thing about it though, was that I had a smile on… More
[img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] Meatballs is by no means, an Ivan Reitman/Bill Murray classic. However, it has got quite a few funny moments and an energetic Murray leading the camp. The best thing about it though, was that I had a smile on my face that never faded away when I was watching it.
Cassie H

An hilarious camp comedy starring Bill Murray, as Tripper, a camp counselor at Camp Northstar who acts like a kid himself and bonds with the other kids. Lots of memorable characters such as Rudy, the shy kid that no one wants to bother with but Tripper, Spaz, who is unlucky with the… More
An hilarious camp comedy starring Bill Murray, as Tripper, a camp counselor at Camp Northstar who acts like a kid himself and bonds with the other kids. Lots of memorable characters such as Rudy, the shy kid that no one wants to bother with but Tripper, Spaz, who is unlucky with the ladies, Morty, the counselor that everyone tortures and also the crazy romances between Candace and Bobby aka Crockett, A.L. & Wheeler, Spaz and Jackie and who could forget Roxanne and Tripper, and with all the battling between Camp Northstar and Mohawk you'll definitely want that second serving of meatballs! :) :) :) :)
AJ V

One of the first of many summer camp movies for teens. It's pretty funny for the most part, especially because of Bill Murray, but other than that it's not that good.
A.D. V

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.
David L

The plot is predictable. It has been done many times in other movies. You have competing summer camps in this one: the rich kids vs. the underachievers competing for "bragging" rights in the typical camp contests, while the kids and consolers pursue pranks, sex, and "a… More
The plot is predictable. It has been done many times in other movies. You have competing summer camps in this one: the rich kids vs. the underachievers competing for "bragging" rights in the typical camp contests, while the kids and consolers pursue pranks, sex, and "a good time!" "Are You Ready For The Summer?" Meatballs is the first (and best) summer camp movie for feel-good comedy. Sure it's no Citizen Kane, but this type of movie isn't meant to be. The film works because of the wonderful comic timing and classic one-liners of Bill Murray. His scenes with a camper where he tries to raise the kid's self-esteem are very good. Bill's one-liners throughout the film are very funny. I also like that this movie isn't dirty or explicit like so many other "teens at camp" movies today. There is some mild sexual innuendo and maybe one or two cuss words in the entire film. But Meatballs is the type of teen movie that is actually appropriate for the younger crowd. It's rated PG. This is a movie that you have to see a few times to get all of the jokes! When Bill Murray is on the screen or making one of his classic "PA Announcements" you are drawn to the film. Bill seems to carry the movie all by himself. But he does it so well, that when you see Meatballs, you will realize that this is the film that made him a star! A side note to this review is to avoid all of the Meatballs movie sequels. They are horribly bad.
Curtis L

So bad I didn't want it, even for free.
Lafe F

A classic! It's like a Friday the 13th film without anybody getting killed, and the comedy upped to a quality level. Funny stuff.
Michael G

Classic Bill Murray. "IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER!! IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER!"
Christopher O

Murray's first leading role as a aged camp counselor who is as childish as the campers he cares for but Murray makes Tripper likeable and gives him some heart. Chris Makepeace is very good as the young camper Murray takes under his wing. A little dated now but still a nice little… More
Murray's first leading role as a aged camp counselor who is as childish as the campers he cares for but Murray makes Tripper likeable and gives him some heart. Chris Makepeace is very good as the young camper Murray takes under his wing. A little dated now but still a nice little comedy.
Marcus W

There are those who will call this a movie. They are lying. It is nothing more than an excuse for Bill Murray to bring his womanising, prankster, slacker act to a new setting - and that's never a bad thing. All together now, "It just doesn't matter! It just doesn't… More
There are those who will call this a movie. They are lying. It is nothing more than an excuse for Bill Murray to bring his womanising, prankster, slacker act to a new setting - and that's never a bad thing. All together now, "It just doesn't matter! It just doesn't matter!"
Lee K

Shot up in haliburton ontario,hilarious little movie i grew up with. I miss Murray doing comedic roles.
Nate H

Awesome: Bill Murray. Mediocre and predictable: Everything else.

Read all 12 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Bill Murray as Tripper

            Harvey Atkin as Morty

            Kate Lynch as Roxanne

            Russ Banham as Crockett

            Jack Blum as Spaz

            Kristine de Bell as A.L.

            Sarah Torgov as Candace

            Chris Makepeace as Rudy

            Keith Knight as Fink

            Cindy Girling as Wendy

            Todd Hoffman as Wheels

            Margot Pinvidic as Jackie

            Matt Craven as Hardware

            Norma Dell'Agnese as Brenda

            Michael Kirby as Eddy

            Greg Swangon
            
            Ron Barry as Lance

            Paul Boyle as Ace

            Vince Guerriero as Rhino

            James E. McLarty as Horse

            Heather Preece as Patti

            Alison Diver as Carla

            Valerie Fersht as Liza

            Allan Levson as Peter DeWitt

            Patrick Hynes as Andrew

            Hadley Kay as Bradley

            Billie Kishonti as Jeffrey

            Peter Hume
            
            Ruth Rennie as Jody

            Larry Solway as Interviewer
See full cast

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