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"DADDY DAY CAMP" (2007) (Cuba Gooding Jr., Paul Rae) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Mild *Heavy *Minor Mild Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy None Minor Mild Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild None Moderate Moderate *Mild QUICK TAKE: Comedy: Two men try to translate their success of running a daycare facility into doing the same for a summer day camp, all while having to deal with the adult bully who runs a rival, upscale camp and wants to buy theirs for the land. PLOT: It's been a few years since friends and coworkers Charlie Hinton (CUBA GOODING JR.) and Phil Ryerson (PAUL RAE) opened their Daddy Day Car facility, overcame various obstacles along the way, and turned their novel business into a success. Now it's time to take their kids to summer day camp, a prospect that doesn't sit well with Charlie due to his own traumatizing experience at such a place back when he was a kid. Nevertheless, wife Kim (TAMALA JONES) sends him off with their young son, Ben (SPENCIR BRIDGES), and it's not long before they, Phil, and his son, Max (DALLIN BOYCE), arrive at Camp Driftwood. It's a rundown place with no customers, only one staffer, new guy Dale (JOSH McLERRAN), and an owner, Uncle Morty (BRIAN DOYLE-MURRAY), who doesn't seem to care about anything. That is, except that he refuses to sell the place to Lance Warner (LOCHLYN MUNRO) who runs the nearby upscale Camp Canola and wants to raze this one for the future site of a go-cart track. When Charlie realizes that Lance is his childhood tormentor grown up with a bully son of his own, he decides to buy a partnership in Camp Driftwood, just to keep it out of Lance's hands. He figures he and Phil can apply their Daddy Day Care knowledge to running the camp and turn the business around, but they aren't ready for the chaos brought about by their new charges. They include brothers Robert (TAD D'AGOSTINO) and Carl (TAGGART HURTUBISE), the latter of whom might be younger than the former, but is always giving him advice about how to attract the pretty Juliette (TELISE GALANIS). Billy (TYGER RAWLINGS) is the resident bully who picks on the likes of anyone smaller than him, including Jack (TALON G. ACKERMAN) who has an easily upset stomach. Then there's the precocious Becca (MOLLY JEPSON), as well as Mullet Head (ZACHARY ALLEN) whose name describes his hairstyle of choice. Facing a lien on the camp and thus, by extension his own place, Charlie reluctantly asks his father, retired Marine Col. Buck Hinton (RICHARD GANT) for help, but isn't pleased when he learns that his father's controlling and demeaning ways haven't changed. From that point on, and as Lance puts the pressure on Charlie to sell the place, all while constantly belittling him, his family, and his campers, it's up to the ragtag group to formulate their battle plan and fight back. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Younger kids probably will, especially if they're into comedies set at summer camp. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For mild bodily humor and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: CUBA GOODING JR. plays a married father who impulsively buys into a rundown camp, thinking he can apply his daycare business experience into running the place. When he realizes he's in over his head, he reluctantly calls in his father to help, despite never having gotten along with him (although that eventually changes). He must also contend with hoping his young son doesn't end up like his grandfather, as well as the constant bullying done by Lance. PAUL RAE plays his business partner who helps run the camp. LOCHLYN MUNRO plays the brash and mean bully who runs the rival camp, wants to buy Camp Driftwood, and does everything in his power to accomplish that, all while constantly belittling Charlie and the rest. RICHARD GANT plays Charlie's father, a retired Marine who still thinks and behaves in a military fashion, including how to deal with his now adult son (although he eventually comes around). He comes in to help run the camp and assist the kids in defeating their rivals. TAMALA JONES plays Charlie's wife who's surprised by his impulsive business decision, and then concerned that he might have bitten off more than he can chew in running the place. SPENCIR BRIDGES plays Charlie's young son who's happy to have his grandfather around, especially since he must contend with bullies from both camps. JOSH McLERRAN plays the lone camp staffer who tries to help Charlie and Phil run the place, but is mostly in over his head. TELISE GALANIS plays the young girl who Robert likes. TAD D'AGOSTINO plays a video game obsessed camper who likes Juliette, but is unsure about what to do or say and thus is awkward around her. TAGGART HURTUBISE plays his younger brother who's quite knowledgeable about girls despite his young age. MOLLY JEPSON plays a young but precocious girl at the camp. TYGER RAWLINGS plays the bully who picks on other kids in the camp. TALON G. ACKERMAN plays a younger kid with a queasy stomach with a penchant for vomiting. ZACHARY ALLEN plays a kid who sports a mullet-style haircut and acts somewhat like a bully, although not to the extent that Billy behaves. BRIAN DOYLE-MURRAY plays the owner of Camp Driftwood who leaves town once Charlie buys into the place as a partner. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG. Brief, minor profanity is present, along with various colorful phrases, and some brief and non-explicit, but sexually related dialogue. A man is seen in his underwear (played for comedy and in a nonsexual context), while there's also a glimpse of the lower part of a young boy's bare bottom as he relieves himself. Played for comedy, some characters strike others, while various bits of slapstick style material are also present. That and other behavior may be enticing for some kids to imitate, while various comedy-based bad attitudes are on display. Verbal and visually-based crude humor (including vomiting) is present, as is some tense family material and thematic elements. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE The kids sing the old "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" song, but substitute "non-alcoholic beer" in the lyrics. As a worried mom drops off her daughter to go to day camp, the girl asks her mom if she took her Xanax. BLOOD/GORE We hear the sound of a boy urinating, and see just the lower part of his bare butt as he stands with his pants down, urinating on a houseplant (inside). Ben shoots a water gun onto the front of Charlie's chef apron, joking that he peed his pants. Charlie then jokes back for him to get used to it, as he'll be changing Charlie's diapers in the future. Charlie kills a bug on a hamburger that's on the grill (with bug gut results). Phil then bites into that burger, unaware of what just happened. A specialist reports that the camp bathroom has a methane problem, and we hear the sound of flies and some slight farting as he exits with Charlie and Phil. After he leaves, Phil farts, but says it wasn't him. Charlie goes to clean the toilet, but it's very gross and has thick, brown liquid bubbling up from it. He ends up passing out from the smell and/or look of it. Lance's son jokes that Charlie poops in his shorts. We see a skunk spray the inside of a bus window. Moments later, Jack walks out and vomits all over Charlie's shoes (we hear but don't see the actual act). We see Phil sitting on the toilet (pants around his ankles, but no nudity or bodily functions are seen or heard). When the light goes out, he gets out a lighter, forgetting about the methane problem. We then see an exterior view of the bathroom explode, with Phil then walking along charred, with his pants still down (he's in his boxers and a shirt). We see Mullet Head with bad poison ivy blisters on his face. Phil then tells Jack not to go "number two" for a while since the clover he previously used to wipe was actually poison ivy. The kids sing one of those rhyming Marine marches that includes lines about farting on a head, puking in the kitchen, and peanuts in poo. Billy confesses to Phil that he has a problem wetting the bed at night, with Phil saying he did as well as a boy. Phil then says he has a trick, and the next day we see Billy wake up and check himself for wetness, but he's dry (because he fooled his body by sleeping in his day clothes). Jack rushes into Charlie's tent and vomits (we hear the sound). Charlie then goes and looks inside (we only see his face) and looks disgusted, especially when some vomit drips down onto his face. Sleeping back to back in the same tent, Phil farts (we see a close-up of his clothed butt during that), causing Charlie to react to the smell and leave. Jack unintentionally projectile vomits onto an opponent in a game of tug of war. To get revenge on an opponent secretly using a slingshot to pop water balloons in the Olympiad, Billy walks off with an empty balloon, saying he's going to fill it with something other than water (adding that he's been holding it in). He then throws the filled balloon and hits the other kid on the head, prompting that boy to rush off and yell, "It's pee!" DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Charlie buys a partnership in Camp Driftwood without first consulting his wife, and thus risks their home as the collateral. Lance and his son have bad attitudes toward Charlie, Ben, Buck, and everyone else at the rival camp. One boy calls the girls "skirts" and says that they have "cooties." Lance says his son isn't his son, and that he hates kids. Mullet Head tries to pick the lock on the snack shack. When that doesn't work, he kicks the wall, causing the shack to fall open. Lance makes various disparaging, age-based remarks toward Buck, including "Old man," "Relax, General Depends" and "Lt. prune juice." Lance and his campers disrupt Camp Driftwood by blasting through on their ATVs. Lance says that the best moment of his life was when he was 11 and kicked young Charlie's "butt." Mullet Head and Billy refer to Ben as a runt. Charlie tells the kids a white lie about the contents of a note Buck left for him. Camp Canola campers cheat in various ways in the Olympiad, including tripping some runners with tripwire, a boy shooting water balloons with a slingshot, and one side of a climbing wall being covered in grease. Lance tells Ben that he (the boy) is a loser just like his dad. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed here and under "Violence" may be unsettling or suspenseful to the youngest of viewers, but it's all played for laughs. Mullet Head prepares to shoot a bunny with an arrow (during archery), but Charlie stops him. Moments later, Mullet Head and other kids spot a flock of birds overhead and open fire on them (we don't see if any are hit), with the arrows landing all around Charlie. Phil and the kids run from bees that he accidentally disturbs. GUNS/WEAPONS Mullet Head prepares to shoot a bunny with an arrow (during archery), but Charlie stops him. Moments later, Mullet Head and other kids spot a flock of birds overhead and open fire on them (we don't see if any are hit), with the arrows landing all around Charlie. We see a ceremonial sword on the wall and toys tanks on a battlefield display in Buck's office. Kids from the rival camp shoot kids and adults at Camp Driftwood with paint guns. Lance displays the "spear of honor" designed to go along with the intercamp Olympiad. Later, and to show his willingness to compete, Charlie throws that spear that then lands by Lance's feet. Lance has a ceremonial sword displayed on his desk. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Cool," "Awesome," "What the heck?" "Crap hole," "Butt-head," "That mutant son of theirs," "That kid has been a pain in my hiney," "Jerk," "Your loser butt," "It's another beautiful woodchuck day," "Oh crap," "What am I, Dr. Phil?" "Watch the merchandise, dude," "Dork," "Skirts" (girls), "You and your nerdy team of idiots," "Ax coming down, "Buddy-boy," "They'll be jumping ship like harbor rats," "That's/You're pathetic," "Open your ear-holes, dweebers," "Pea-brain," "War is hell, skunk-boy," "Loser," "Insane militant nut factory," "Get your butt kicked," "You go kick some Lance Warner butt," "I look like a goober," "Get your groove on, dude," "Cross my heart, hope to diet," "Listen up, hippie hair," "Shut up," "Runt," "Idiot," "Don't know why you got your panties in a wad," "Snotty-nosed, silver spoon brats," "Canola cretins," "Hey, Chucky Cheese," "Your team sucks," "We're doomed. Doomed I tell you," "Unless your leathery old butt comes back," "I suck," "Suck it up," "What, are you a moron?" "Wall coming down" and "Chicks." A young girl tiptoes on phone books and strains to reach a sheet cake on a table. She pulls it toward her, and then it falls on the floor. Another squirts ketchup on another kid, one kid has carrots up his nose, and another pees on a houseplant indoors. Ben shoots a water gun onto the front of Charlie's chef apron, joking that he peed his pants. As Uncle Morty unexpectedly leaves, Charlie races up and grabs hold of the spare tire on the back of his vehicle. Uncle Morty drives off, briefly dragging Charlie (on his feet) down the dirt road. Mullet Head has a mullet haircut, saying it's all business in the front and a party in the back. Mullet Head prepares to shoot a bunny with an arrow (during archery), but Charlie stops him. Moments later, Mullet Head and other kids spot a flock of birds overhead and open fire on them (we don't see if any are hit), with the arrows landing all around Charlie. The kids run around the camp, completely out of control. We see that the kids have Dale tied to a tree. Mullet Head tries to pick the lock on the snack shack. When that doesn't work, he kicks the wall, causing the shack to fall open. Moments later, the kids are all on a candy high. Kim gives Ben a tomato juice bath to combat the smell of skunk on him. Lance's campers raid Camp Driftwood, causing all sorts of chaos. That includes grabbing a boy and giving him a wedgie, and shooting many kids and adults with paint guns (and seemingly hitting others with paint-filled balloons -- with Billy hitting one of his camp-mates with one of them). Phil covers his crotch to avoid any contact, but then a kid comes up and punches him there. We later see Dale tied up off the ground in a net (that Buck later cuts loose, causing Dale to hit the ground), while they also have Phil's hands tied. Lance makes various disparaging, age-based remarks toward Buck, including "Old man," "Relax, General Depends" and "Lt. prune juice." Lance and his campers disrupt Camp Driftwood by blasting through on their ATVs. Buck has the kids wear leaf camouflage to sneak up on the rival camp. Buck has the kids repeatedly pelt Lance with eggs and what look like vegetables or fruit. That ends with a pie to his face. Lance's son makes chicken sounds and related arm gestures toward Charlie and his campers. Various kids and then Phil belch after eating a big meal. Billy competes in a mass marshmallow-eating contest. To get revenge on an opponent secretly using a slingshot to pop water balloons in the Olympiad, Billy walks off with an empty balloon, saying he's going to fill it with something other than water (adding that he's been holding it in). He then throws the filled balloon and hits the other kid on the head, prompting that boy to rush off and yell, "It's pee!" JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A tiny bit of suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) The kids sing the old "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" song, but substitute "non-alcoholic beer" in the lyrics. The kids sing one of those rhyming Marine marches that includes lines about farting on a head, puking in the kitchen, and peanuts in poo. A song repeats the lyric, "This is war." PROFANITY At least 2 craps, 1 hell and 1 use of "For the love of God." SEX/NUDITY We hear the sound of a boy urinating, and see just the lower part of his bare butt as he stands with his pants down, urinating on a houseplant (inside). Billy complains about going to day camp, saying he wants to watch nudie films on cable. The kids attach a hook to Lance's pants and yank them off, leaving him in a jacket, shoes and his briefs that have stars drawn all over them. Robert tells his younger brother to tell him everything he knows about girls. As they walk off, we hear Carl saying, "First you got a bird. Then you got a bee..." SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Lance says his son isn't his son, and that he hates kids. Charlie complains that his father operates via using anger, shaming, and criticism. Robert and Carl briefly fight and have to be separated. Charlie is a bit worried when Ben is missing at night in the woods (but is found in a tree, okay). Buck overhears Charlie saying that he doesn't want Ben to grow up anything like Buck, with both men not getting along. Later, however, and despite their longstanding father-son differences, Charlie and Buck make up. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Summer camp. Dealing with bullies. Strained parent-child relationships. Kim gives Ben a tomato juice bath to combat the smell of skunk on him. Buck's strategy to meet force with force (in terms of dealing with the rival camp). Lance says that the best moment of his life was when he was 11 and kicked young Charlie's "butt." Billy confesses to Phil that he has a problem wetting the bed at night, with Phil saying he did as well as a boy. Phil then says he has a trick, and the next day we see Billy wake up and check himself for wetness, but he's dry (because he fooled his body by sleeping in his day clothes). The comment that to win a battle, one must first believe in the success of the mission. Despite their longstanding father-son differences, Charlie and Buck make up. VIOLENCE All of the following is played for comedy. While hammering on it, Charlie falls through a roof. Phil ends up falling to the ground when the rope swing he's on breaks. Dale accidentally lets the school bus run into the camp building, causing damage to both and some sparks to fly. Mullet Head tries to pick the lock on the snack shack. When that doesn't work, he kicks the wall, causing the shack to fall open. During some sugar buzz chaos, Billy whacks Charlie on the clothed butt with a stick. We see Phil sitting on the toilet (pants around his ankles, but no nudity or bodily functions are seen or heard). When the light goes out, he gets out a lighter, forgetting about the methane problem. We then see an exterior view of the bathroom explode, with Phil then walking along charred, with his pants still down (he's in his boxers and a shirt). Lance's campers raid Camp Driftwood, causing all sorts of chaos. That includes grabbing a boy and giving him a wedgie, and shooting many kids and adults with paint guns (and seemingly hitting others with paint-filled balloons -- with Billy hitting one of his camp-mates with one of them). Phil covers his crotch to avoid any contact, but then a kid comes up and punches him there. We later see Dale tied up off the ground in a net (that Buck later cuts loose, causing Dale to hit the ground), while they also have Phil's hands tied. A kid hits Billy who then knocks that smaller kid to the ground and pummels him until pulled off. Buck has the kids repeatedly pelt Lance with eggs and what look like vegetables or fruit. That ends with a pie to his face. Robert and Carl briefly fight and have to be separated. Robert burns the inside of his mouth by putting something freshly grilled into it. On several occasions, Charlie falls (in a pratfall type fashion). Coated with skunk smell, a wrestler causes both his opponent and the ref to pass out and fall to the ground. Lance's son kicks him in the lower leg, causing his dad to fall backwards and knock down a portable climbing wall, with it crashing down onto a bunch of trophies. Reviewed August 4, 2007 / Posted August 8, 2007

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