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Film Gecko

DVD Review: Daddy Day Camp

by Jane Boursaw on January 30th, 2008

Movie: Daddy Day Camp
On DVD: January 29, 2008
Rated: PG for mild bodily humor and language
Suggested Ages: 7+
Buy it: Amazon.com
Gecko Rating:

In 2003’s “Daddy Day Care,” Charlie Hinton and Phil Ryerson (played by Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin at the time) created a successful daycare business and kept everyone laughing at the same time.

This sequel finds the pair (now played by Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Paul Rae) still in the business after four years. But their kids are growing up and the dads feel like the years are slipping away. To spend more time with them, they decide to take over a summer day camp.

“The Daddy Day Care brand means a lot,” says Charlie to wife Kim (Tamala Jones). “Repurposing that brand into summer is just smart business.” Kim’s not convinced. After all, Charlie has zero knowledge of the great outdoors. Still, he’s excited about the idea of introducing his son, Ben (Spencir Bridges), to Camp Driftwood – the same camp he went to as a kid.

More after the jump, including a video clip!

Once there, they discover the run-down camp badly in need of some attention. No problem! Charlie and Phil get to work tidying things up so they can give campers “a summer they’ll never forget.” Truer words were never spoken, because nothing goes right from day one. It doesn’t take long for things to spiral out of control.

A busload of campers show up, all with their distinct personalities: Becca (Molly Jepson) is the voice of reason. Mullet (Zachary Allen) is “business up front, party in the back, baby.” And Robert (Tad D’Agostino) is the geeky guy who wants the cool girl.

An Intercamp Olympiad plays into the storyline – involving a long-ago rival of Charlie’s at a neighboring camp – as well as some family issues involving Charlie’s military dad, Col. Buck (Richard Grant).

It’s a familiar story about being true to yourself, working as a team, persevering against the odds, and letting the past stay in the past. You pretty much know how this movie is going to turn out in the first five minutes. I think the writers must have put about 5 minutes into the script.

This movie is ok for kids 7 and older, but be warned that it includes a LOT of crude jokes and slapstick comedy: A school bus careens into a camp building, Phil gets whacked with a piece of wood, Charlie falls through a dilapidated roof, Phil gets knocked in his privates by a little camper (it’s a recurring theme), an outhouse explodes, a skunk gets friendly with a bus window, and so on and so forth. Fortunately, there are a few lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and forgiveness mixed in there somewhere.