Watch Gorp

In 1980, director Joseph Ruben brought to the big screen a classic comedy with a young Dennis Quaid and Michael Lembeck leading a cast of fresh talents. This movie, titled Gorp, was a wild and wacky story of summer jobs, parties, and hijinks that mirrored the spirit of the early 1980s with style and humor. Set in a Jewish summer camp nicknamed ‘Camp Oskemo’, Gorp follows the daily lives of the camp counselors as they summer it up while overseeing their campers. The movie presents a kaleidoscope of gags and pranks against the backdrop of the beautiful nature of upstate New York.

The main protagonist, Andy (Lembeck), is a counselor known for his wit and resourcefulness. Alongside his two best friends, the goofy-natured Eugene (Fran Drescher) and the charming sweet-talker Hiawatha (Philip Casnoff), Andy is looking to have the best summer of his life.

But things don’t go exactly as planned when a rival group of counselors led by the snobbish Flash (Quaid) starts competing with the trio's group for party dominance. The story takes us on a rollercoaster ride of hilarious and raunchy moments, as the two groups lock horns trying to outdo each other.

The movie features a massive ensemble cast of talented actors all firing on full cylinders, resulting in a high-energy comedy that delivers on all fronts. With comedy veterans like Drescher and David Huddleston in the mix, as well as fresh talents like Quaid and Hillel Slovak, Gorp was a showcase for comedic talent.

The film is heavily influenced by other classic comedies, with a style reminiscent of Animal House and Meatballs, that defines its era. It has all the hallmarks of a classic 80s comedy - creative gags, snarky one-liners, and daring pranks.

For instance, there's a scene where the counselors throw a pool party and a game of human shuffleboard ensues. The game involves one person standing on a large rubber floatie while the rest of the counselors launch themselves to slide in, using their bodies as pucks. It's wild, raunchy, and silly all at once, and the movie is full of similar moments.

But even with all the absurdity, the film still manages to deliver a message. Gorp juxtaposes the wild party scene with touching moments like when the counselors connect with their campers, highlighting the personal growth they acquire during the summer. In this way, Gorp manages to remain wholesome, even as it indulges in all kinds of wildness.

The film’s soundtrack also adds to its charms. With songs like “Old Fashioned Love,” “You're My Baby,” and “Fly Away," the upbeat soundtrack captures the vibrant energy of the early 80s and effectively underscores the movie's high-spirited nature.

Overall, Gorp is a hilarious comedy of mischief and mayhem that delivers from beginning to end. The movie brilliantly captures the era’s youthful spirit, mixing raunchy humor and heartfelt moments with ease. Though it's not destined to go down in history as a classic film, Gorp is a nostalgic throwback to a simpler time where friends and fun were paramount, and it deserves recognition as a cult classic of the funny film genre.

Gorp is a 1980 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.5.