In the days of cinematic over-saturation, loads of generic comedies with hollow characters, unoriginal ideas and—perhaps most offensively—unfunny jokes, bleed onto screens. Far too many of those films go around with barely any laughs or smiles. Summer Camp is one of them. Despite an impressive ensemble cast, at every turn this slightly raunchy nostalgic flick unfolds predictably, characters speak cartoonishly, and jokes feel forced. Anything substantial is told to the audience by the main characters, with little laughter to follow. The film’s star power is wasted on this thin reunion that, like some actual summer camps, loses its charm the minute you step in.

Summer Camp follows old summer camp rejects-turned-friends Ginny (Kathy Bates), Nora (Diane Keaton), and Mary (Alfre Woodard) as they embark on their camp group’s 50-year anniversary. While there, they rediscover the ins and outs of each others’ lives—from Ginny’s best-selling literary success to Mary’s disinterested husband—and their need for each other as life progresses. New love interests pop up, old bullies and (unfunny) ridiculous camp activities ensue, vying to be a cacklingly cathartic time for those in and outside the screen.

There isn’t much to say about this one. As soon as the film opens with unfocused wide shots of an indiscernable summer camp and a nerdy glasses-wearing childhood Nora (Taylor Madeline Hand), the rest of the plot and how things will end become instantly clear. The race to the finish is thus more of a slog through predictable wind-ups gotten through with mostly canned one-liners. A few jokes land, as they can in even terrible comedies, but they don’t add any appeal. The cast is amusingly charming, but they cannot save the film’s hollow plot and dully familiar character work. Summer Camp isn’t worth wasting summer on. 

Now playing @ Apple Cinemas Cambridge