#FIRSTLOOK: “WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER: FIRST DAY OF CAMP” ON NETFLIX

By Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

Netflix has gained a reputation for salvaging quality Television Series and Films that might not have thrived on other platforms, giving them that extra bit of love they deserve. This is certainly no different for the upcoming Series, spawned from brilliant 2001 Cult Classic, Wet Hot American Summer. We aren’t quite sure how Netflix wrangled together Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler and Bradley Cooper back together once again for an outlandish reunion, but they managed to pull it off.

Wet Hot American Summer (The Movie) takes place in 1981 at Camp Firewood, on the last day of Camp – where relationships tend to fall apart, emotions rise due to camp ending, random hookups insinuate because you will not see the other person for a year, and so forth. However, the Movie indulges into something much larger, something devastating as Henry (David Hyde Pierce) and Beth (Janeane Garofalo) attempt to stop a satellite from crashing into the camp rec room and killing all the campers and camp grounds itself.

Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves now though, let’s go to the first day of Camp, where Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp actually started off. In the first three episodes, we find out that Gene (Christopher Meloni) hasn’t always been the sweater-fondling, refrigerator-humping Nut Case we fell in love with in the Movie. He was actually a very kind understanding person until he is requested to call upon his Vietnam days. As well not only do we find out how Gene becomes the crazed Chef, but we finally find out why Mitch (H. Jon Benjamin) is a can of vegetables.

What makes First Day of Camp such a joyous occasion for Fans of the Film, is that the Series indulges in several aspects the Movie never touched upon. The Movie was very much a vacuum, stayed completely sealed in Camp Firewood, meanwhile First Day of Camp indulges in other aspects that were never previously touched upon. Whether that be Katie’s (Marguerite Moreau) backstory, something tied to rival Camp Tiger Claw or how Andy (Paul Rudd) never ages [that is not actually explained in the first three episodes, but how does he not age?!]

Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp unfortunately doesn’t last eight glorious weeks in reality, but at least there are four hours of serious campfire bonding on our calendars.

Netflix Canada stream Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp at midnight PDT on Friday July 31, 2015.

A Featurette about the exciting Series:

(Photo/video credit: Netflix Canada)