Meatballs (1979)
Featuring Bill
Murray
@ the usual
place, 23 April, 12h30
(NOTE NEW
DATE!)
Meatballs
is a 1979
Canadian comedy film. It was the first film
appearance of Bill Murray and, though not his first
film, launched Ivan Reitman into a career of light comedies.
It introduced child-actor Chris Makepeace in the role of Rudy
Gerner. It was considered somewhat raunchy in its day, but has
since become a family classic. It was followed by several
sequels.
The film
followed the antics and foibles of head counsellor Tripper Harrison
(Bill Murray) and the counsellors-in-training (CITs) at Camp North
Star, a cut-rate summer camp somewhere in the "North Woods". The
characters range from reasonably sane, to zany, to
screwball.
The main part
of the plot involves Rudy Gerner (Chris Makepeace), a lonely kid
who is sent away for the summer to attend camp, and how he
befriends Tripper. Each morning, Tripper and Rudy go jogging and
bond as friends. Tripper helps Rudy gain confedence in trying and
Rudy gives Tripper the courage to be with Roxanne (Kate Lynch), the
female head counselor.
At the same
time, a rivalry with Camp Mohawk, another summer camp across the
lake – one with a richer clientele – and Camp Northstar's attempt
to come away with, if not outright victory, then at least its very
own perverse version of pride, from the yearly "Olympiad" held
between Camp Northstar and Camp Mohawk.
The last
event is a marathon race in which Rudy is chosen as North Star's
runner. Because of the time Rudy spent in the mornings jogging
Tripper throughout the film, he wins the race. The film ends with
all of the CIT's gathered around a campfire in which everyone says
a final goodbye to each other and hopes to see them again next
summer.
What a crap movie! Rather
come and join us for lunch.
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