Wet Hot American Summer
USA Films | Release Date: July 27, 2001 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
42
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
10
Negative:
9
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
The movie is so hilariously sly about something so fetishistically trivial that at times it appears to take in an entire culture through a lens made of cheese. Read full review
90
NewsweekDavid Ansen
This shamefully underpromoted, gloriously silly romp made me laugh harder than any other movie this summer. Make that this year. Read full review
80
Chicago ReaderLisa Alspector
It's not a sex movie but a parody, and the loose feel is part of its genius. Read full review
70
VarietyDennis Harvey
Nearly half over before it finds a consistent groove, let alone a decent hit-to-miss joke ratio. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeJay Carr
The film keeps being yanked back from nothingness by this or that clever sendup, delivered by a small army of invigorated performers who seem to push off from one another's energy levels. Read full review
60
Mr. ShowbizMichael Atkinson
A mess, bouncing nonsensically from one style of farce to another, leaving large vacuums and dead spots — which may themselves, of course, be deliberate.
60
L.A. WeeklyManohla Dargis
Like, you know, genius. But, like, you know, why? Read full review
60
The New York TimesDana Stevens
In essence, it's a ragged collection of bits and sketches cobbled into about a dozen plots, most of which call upon the cast to do a lot of tongue and neck-spraining French kissing. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesGene Seymour
It's nice, once in a while, to come upon a movie that knows it's nothing special, proves it and doesn't care so long as its target audience feels good enough to have a refreshing beverage or two afterward. Read full review
58
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
It comes out less like a spoof than a smart-aleck remake of "Meatballs," minus the energy of Bill Murray. Read full review
50
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
The frantic proceedings are more likely to have you wishing this summer would just come to an end. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleEdward Guthmann
Harmless enough, and its team of actors so frisky and enthusiastic that it manages to deliver a modicum of laughs despite itself. Read full review
50
New York PostLou Lumenick
Mostly it fails to score. Maybe that's why no one has attempted summer-camp comedy since the third "Meatballs" sequel a decade ago. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleKimberley Jones
Big, dumb, and fun. Read full review
50
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Lulls aside, Wain and Showalter deserve camp kudos for getting the details right. Read full review
38
USA TodayClaudia Plig
The writing here is rarely funny, and often trite and predictable. A couple of scenes are downright disturbing: Read full review
38
Chicago TribuneRobert K. Elder
This low-budget comedy will most likely try the patience of a paying audience with its uneven pacing, wavering tone and poor production quality. Read full review
30
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
Most of the scenes fall flatter than a lead soufflé, and the film's sight gags -- Andy dumping campers' bodies by the roadside, Gene humping the refrigerator -- are outrageous without actually being funny. Read full review
30
Village VoiceMichael Atkinson
The film exists in a humid meta-movie ether all its own. Read full review
25
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
I want to escape, Oh, Muddah Faddah -- Life's too short for cinematic torture. Read full review
20
SalonCharles Taylor
A thoroughly inept piece of moviemaking. You're more likely to find a ham sandwich at a Passover seder than to find a laugh in this picture. Read full review
20
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Stumbles right out of the gate and never regains its footing. It's sad to see a gifted comedian like Janeane Garofalo trying, but failing, to anchor this mediocre affair.
10
New Times (L.A.)Gregory Weinkauf
Doesn't swing, doesn't score, can't make it to first base, never even drags its sorry ass out of the dugout. Read full review
0
Washington PostStephen Hunter
This is supposed to be funny? It was so depressing I almost started to cry. Read full review
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