A Synopsis of The Movie ‘Summer Camp’

Written by Michael Lee

*All Media used in this article is courtesy Roadside Attractions

Photo via Roadside Addractions

‘Summer Camp’ Official Trailer

Photo via Roadside Addractions

Plot Synopsis

Nora, Ginny, and Mary have been very close friends since they were small children and have spent many of their summers together including attending a sleepaway camp. Nora (Keaton) is a workaholic scientist. Ginny (Bates) is a TikTok influencer slash self-help guru with quips aplenty. And Mary (Woodward) is an unhappily married workaholic nurse who just can’t catch a break. The three of them have remained close all these years, but their origin story begins as a group of teenage outcasts and losers banished to the infamous Sassafras cabin, a place where weirdos of the camp are exiled to bask in their weirdness together, so it seems. We find out this is where their friendship has bloomed and they have attended this summer camp every year of their childhood and all these years later, though life has taken them in too many different directions, the three of them often reunite in their seemingly unshakeable bond to awaken their inner child.

‘Summer Camp’ Film Clip: Bullseye | Video Courtesy Roadside Attractions

Though it has been quite awhile since the three have gotten together, as work and life has gotten in their way. But an unmissable opportunity has presented itself for the team to get back together and the three don’t front; they all singularly realize the importance of this once in a lifetime girls trip. It’s reunion week at Summer Camp (organized by Ginny, of course) and all of their old friends, flames, and enemies will be traveling back to reminisce about times gone by. But times have changed indeed. Ginny has sent her close personal friend Martha (Yes, it’s Martha Stewart) to revamp their old Sassafras cabin from its dingy beginnings into a fancy Instagram ready abode complete with a wine fridge, entirely personalized riding boots and sex toy souvenirs. This is a different kind of girls trip then they’re used to.

‘Summer Camp’ Film Clip: Cell Free Zone | Video Courtesy Roadside Attractions

It’s here we meet our other cast in the once dreamy boy crushes Stevie (Levy) and Tommy (Haysbert). And it's here too we also meet the leader of the popular girls, Jane (D’Angelo) who is a certified Pilates addict and surprisingly, Ginny's biggest fan. Our main trio is enthralled in good company, reminiscing about their youth, sure, but their chats often wander into personal territory; about their marriage vs. their coveted independence, and jokes about sex and even yes, remote-control vibrators. They each have a problem to solve, something that’s getting in the way of their true happiness. All three are looking for their own personal enlightenment, somewhat of marriage of the happiness and carefreeness of their past-selves with their stodgy old current ones.

‘Summer Camp’ Film Clip: Just Class | Video Courtesy Roadside Attractions

Our golden trio is here to let loose, too. Their main rivals, two summer camp counselors who are hungry for authority and the girls who are hungry to break it, experience the joys of their past-lives, with frequent detours for food fights, pillow fights and pottery classes with a lot of pent up eroticism. But that’s not all. Over the course of their stay, the women will share in a lot of misadventures which includes a white water rafting trip, an archery adventure, bungee jumping, and yes, as mentioned before even a mess hall food fight. Of course, no summer camp film is complete without one. But ultimately, they’re basking in the glow of their younger selves, reverting back to times of giggling uncontrollably and kissing boys under the midnight moon, the three of them are learning how to have fun again. They come to realize that it’s important for them to straddle their inner-child understanding just how important it is to be carefree vs. careful, a lesson they will not soon forget.

‘Summer Camp’ Film Clip: New Cabin | Video Courtesy Roadside Attractions

As the trip wanes down, our trio has decisions to make about how their lives will go and what they will do to take charge of it. It’s their one life and it is way too short, why should they spend their lives being so careful and complacent? This trip has proven to them the importance of fun and friendship. And as the film fades to black, Summer Camp reminds us to have fun and take charge. Don’t let life pass you by.