Wet Hot American Summer has three installments following the same camp counselors through their first day of camp, their last day of camp, and their reunion 10 years later. The camp movie is a classic genre, but this franchise adds its own quirky sense of offbeat humor to the classic camp story.
Starring a fantastic ensemble of comedic actors, including Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler, and the Netflix series enlisting countless cameos from actors like Chris Pine and Jon Hamm they all have a fun time with the outrageous comedy the franchise presents to its audience. They quickly find a voice and what works in the film and stick to it for the two Netflix series, let's revisit some of the funniest running gags throughout the franchise!
Reminding The Audience They're Teenagers
A heavily featured joke in the Netflix series is characters referring to the camp counselors as sixteen or seventeen years old. While the kids who attend the camp are all young actors who fit their age, the returning cast is obviously much older, in their 40s and 50s when First Day of Camp aired in 2015. They dress and act like teenagers, which only adds to the hilarity of them all being out of that age range.
Michael Showalter Playing Multiple Characters
Writer and lead actor Michael Showalter played the presumed main character of the film and Netflix series, Coop, but also portrayed a few other characters throughout the franchise. In the film, he plays the comedian who everyone is incredibly excited to see at the end of the summer and all find hilarious and in both of the Netflix series, he portrays President Reagan ridiculously.
Chef Gene's Insanity
Like many storylines, Gene's insane nature is explained in the prequel series First Day of Camp. He was a Vietnam vet that forgot everything until he was reactivated by Mitch.
He had a normal life with Gail and they were about to be married, but then he lost his mind. From humping a fridge to talking to a mixed vegetable can to chasing down Victor after a prank call, Gene's insanity is a constant storyline throughout the franchise.
Being A Terrible Camp
In the film, Andy (Paul Rudd) doesn't pay attention to any of the campers, instead choosing to hang out with his friends and making out with Lindsay (Elizabeth Banks), and is constantly losing them or getting rid of them as they drown or he ditches them in the forest. Both of the Netflix series don't get much better as the camp continually neglects their campers without any consequences.
Outrageous Chase Scenes
In the film, Neil chases Victor after he tells him he was lying about his sex life. The only thing that stops him is a bail of hay in the middle of the road, that Victor jumps over but Neil can't seem to drive around it on his moped. In the First Day of Camp series, Gene the chef chases Victor throughout the forest as he skips after him Victor shuffles under tree branches instead of jumping over them. In the 10 Years Later series, Camp Tiger Claw members chase Mitch the can over a waterfall.
Susie And Ben's Intense Musical Theater Obsession
Amy Poehler and Bradley Cooper play the stereotypical theater kids who are incredibly intense about their craft. The two are hilariously recognizable characters and most people have probably come across a few people like this in their lives.
Although it's a small summer camp talent show or musical, and even though Ben is distracted by his new and exciting relationship with McKinley, they're going to give it their all in the name of their love of theater.
Andy's Tantrums
Cool guy Andy (Paul Rudd) is known for his epic tantrums. In the 2001 film, there's a scene where Andy throws his lunch on the ground and Beth asks him to clean it up. He throws out excuses, but he cleans it up in the most exaggerated fashion sighing constantly puts on his sunglasses and walks out.
His entire character is built on acting like he's too cool to do anything normally and the rules don't apply to him, and this scene is the funniest example of all of his outrageous actions.
Outrageous Unrealistic Situations
From toxic waste turning Camp Director Mitch into a talking vegetable can to Jon Hamm playing an assassin called The Falcon tasked by President Reagan to take out the counselors at the camp the Wet Hot American Summer franchise is filled with outrageous storylines.
Each storyline is more outrageous than the next and the audience is just along for the ride.
Meeting Ten Years Later
The 2001 film has a line where the counselors agree to meet 10 years later because they'll miss each other so much and want to see everyone again. It's a throwaway joke that gets some funny details about what time they should meet and McKinley says he has something at 11:00 a.m. that day that he can't move. The franchise eventually took seriously in the 2017 Netflix series that saw the group meet again after 10 years.
Higher And Higher Song
The same hilariously uplifting song shows up in multiple segments of the franchise. The film sees the song being played during a montage scene with Chef Gene training Coop. First Day of Camp sees Chris Pine's recluse musician try to stop a fight between Camp Tiger Claw and Camp Firewood by playing the song.
It's a feel-good 80's type of song that plays alongside a scene that gradually begins to not reflect the song as the montage scene becomes odd and Chris Pine's character is shot in the middle of the song.