Deeply humorous yet honest comedy about a bunch of grownups (Bill Paxton, Julie Warner, Kevin Pollak, Elizabeth Perkins, Vincent Spano, Matt Craven, and Diane Lane) who are invited back to spend a week to Tomawka, a camp in (Ontario) Canada by their former consuelor (Alan Arkin). Writer/director Mike Binder drew upon his experience at the same camp as the main source of creating a gentle and understanding yarn that makes sense. Also, the movie has plenty of funny moments, some of which are completely bizarre like my favorite, the one involves using masking tape. Newton Thomas Sigel ("The Usual Suspects", "Three Kings") provides the film with some impressive shots of the Canadian wilderness. Among the cast, Sam Raimi, director of "THE EVIL DEAD" films and "The Gift", appears here as Arkin's bumbling right-hand man. One more thing, this film reassured me that a camp doesn't have to be a site of bloody murders.

"Hello Mudder; Hello Fadda...here we are at Camp Tamakwa". Mike Binder writes and directs this dramatic comedy about a group of "thirty-something" friends reuniting in hopes of recreating the best summer of their lives. Your emotions will be mixed...from laughing to maybe crying some. You will watch some turning back the hands of time; some trying to act half their age; and some that would just like to forget the past. This film gets better each time you watch it. A very good ensemble cast; I personally was most impressed with Diane Lane, Kimberly Williams and Bill Paxton. Also helping Unca Lou(Alan Arkin) turn back the time are:Kevin Pollak, Elizabeth Perkins, Vincent Spano and Julie Warner. Make the effort once...you'll be back.

In Binder's quest to capture the essence of summer camp, he seems to have forgotten that, at its core, summer camp is boring. And campers therefore have to constantly create activities for themselves - activities outside the traditional camp schedule -- to stave off that boredom.

I tracked down a copy of this film (not easy) because of an interview with Kevin Pollack who said it was his fave. Don't agree. In fact it is not even Kevin's best work -- see THE LOST ROOM for that.

I am aware that several reviewers have given this film a 10 out of 10 and that is a little scary to me. It is meandering, it is wandering, it makes great demands on the viewer and gives little back.

I am also aware that this is a draw for Diane Lane fans, one of the great beauties of the era. At least THOSE viewers have their expectations contained before the first frame..