Meatballs

1979 "When this lot go back to nature, nature runs for it's life."
6.2| 1h32m| PG| en| More Info
Released: 28 June 1979 Released
Producted By: Canadian Film Development Corporation
Country: Canada
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Tripper is the head counselor at a budget summer camp called Camp Northstar. In truth, he's young at heart and only marginally more mature than the campers themselves. Tripper befriends Rudy, a loner camper who has trouble fitting in. As Tripper inspires his young charges to defeat rival Camp Mohawk in the annual Olympiad competition, Rudy plays matchmaker between Tripper and Roxanne, a female counselor at Northstar.

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Reviews

Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece
Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
Josephina Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.
hellraiser7 This is another childhood gem of mine, it's probably number 9 in the vacation comedy subgenre since it kind of falls into that category, it takes place at a summer camp, so it counts. This is one of those film I like to watch as summer is starting up or sometimes around the other seasons, so I can remember summer time and the good times at that time or remind myself it's not that far off. What made it unique at the time was that it was a comedy that was focused on summer camp which we never really had at the time. This film defiantly got the camp comedy genre going as afterward there have been numerous others that have followed and might have been a partial inspiration to the TV show "Salute your Shorts".This film in a way is kind of like "Animal House" but in summer camp as Camp NorthStar seems to consist of the rag tag bunch which I like because that kind of group is health as it consists of people that are all unique and real community. What I really like about most of the cast in this film are they all look like ordinary everyday people so you're not going to spot anyone from the CW around. This I feel gives the film feel grounded in reality and really helps the relatability factor. This film also in a way is sort of like a journal as we watch it we can easily recall some of our past times when we gone to camp, from seeing some of these characters engage in a wild antic or two or even the games that camps engage in, just a lot of things that really bring you back.The only bad thing about the film is lack of a solid memorable ensemble which I felt the film could have benefited from even more. Not many characters really stand out, they're not bad there are a few that are memorable like Spaz and Fink both are a good comic duo, there is a good back and forth. Kate Lynch she was alright as Roxanne whom is Tripp's significant other and was someone that was trying to keep things running right. Harvey Atkin as Morty whom sort of looks like Groucho Marx is always getting his authority undermined and Tripp and the rest of the colorful councilors they play some pranks on him to give him grief.To me the character that really stands out and I also feel really drives this film is Bill Murray as Tripp. This film was practically his debut in the lead role and it was a good start as it really shows his comedic chops, which he does so flawlessly well. I really like that his character is one that doesn't like or want to follow the rules except his own. He really does care about the people in the camp and want them along with himself to simply have a good time which is what summer camps were built for anyway. However, one other thing I like about him is he never wants anyone to feel down.There is this little plotline on the rivalry with Camp Mohawk which are supposedly the camp that is better and higher up, which also means it's jerk central. There is a scene where camp is playing Basketball against Mohawk, I wouldn't really call it a game it was more like a massacre as most of the personal in camp lets just say make novices in the game look like champs, it's sad but true; however despite their losing dilemma Tripp doesn't let this get them down as they all let's just say made Basketball history.There are lots of great memorable scenes like Tripp telling an urban legend on the campfire which I'll admit got me going for a while, it was just a good scene on build up and pay off. The dance social seeing him do some dance moves which he improvised. And of course, there is the inspirational speech scene which you have to see for yourself Bill is just at his best in that one. Like any good summer camp this is a film worth visiting.Rating: 3 and a half stars
AaronCapenBanner Nostalgic and funny comedy has Bill Murray playing Tripper, a wacky summer camp counselor who, when he isn't trying to romance all the female counselors, is trying to help a sad boy(Chris Makepeace) who doesn't want to be there, and who isn't popular. Also features other assorted characters like "Spaz" for instance. Then there is the rival summer camp where the rich kids go, and whom Tripper badly wants to show up.This could have been just another crass, predictable comedy, but this has a surprising amount of heart and empathy, and by the end, you may get just as misty eyed about it being over as the campers! Of course, all the viewer has to do is replay the DVD.
Woodyanders Wildman head counselor Tripper Harrison (Bill Murray in peak nutty form in his first lead role) presides over the various wacky hi-jinks at North Star summercamp. Tripper befriends sad and lonely misfit kid Rudy (a nice and affecting performance by Chris Makepeace). Director Ivan Reitman relates the amusingly off the wall comic vignettes at a ceaseless snappy pace and maintains an engagingly good-natured tone throughout. This film astutely nails the breezy'n'breezy essence of summer: making friends, first love, pulling pranks, competing in sports with a rival camp, campfire singalongs, and, of course, the inevitable scary urban legend about the escaped psycho killer with the hook hand. The sense of gleefully raucous fun this picture generates is positively infectious. Moreover, the humor is always goofy and occasionally gross, but never too nasty or mean-spirited. Best of all, there's a winning surplus of pure heart to go along with said humor (the warm relationship between Tripper and Rudy in particular is genuinely touching). The cast have an obvious ball playing their likable characters: Murray's gloriously gonzo and galvanizing presence keeps things constantly humming (his crazy PA announcements are absolutely sidesplitting), plus there are sound contributions from Harvey Atkin as hapless camp owner Morty, Kate Lynch as Tripper's sassy old flame Roxanne, Russ Banham as the amiable Crockett, Kristine DeBell as the sweet, foxy A.L., Sarah Torgov as the feisty Candace, Jack Blum as klutzy bespectacled nerd Spaz, Keith Knight as tubby slob Larry Finkelstein, Cindy Girling as the fetching Wendy, and Matt Craven as the hip Hardware. Donald Wilder's cinematography gives the movie an attractive sunny look and makes nifty use of wipes. Elmer Bernstein's lively and melodic score likewise does the trick. A real riot.
avaloswrld Meatballs is a great, feel-good movie. The first time I saw this movie was 1981 on HBO. I was 13 and loving every moment. I just finished watching it again, thanks to the 50+ movie channels satellite offers these days.Anyways, not only is Meatballs the excellent feel-good movie every young boy and 30 something should watch, it reminds me of the times I had in summer camp when was 7-10 years old. Bill Murray really makes the movie, as does "Rudy." The movie really shows how boys and girls did act at summer camp. Now, my summer camps were all church summer camps, but as young kids we all wanted the same things; to be accepted by others and fit in, and to have a shot at holding a girl's hand and maybe getting a kiss. those times were always great.Thanks to Ivan Reitman, we have a movie to ensure rekindling of great memories and laughs.