Metascore
42 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 24
  2. Negative: 9 out of 24
  1. The movie is so hilariously sly about something so fetishistically trivial that at times it appears to take in an entire culture through a lens made of cheese.
  2. Reviewed by: David Ansen
    90
    This shamefully underpromoted, gloriously silly romp made me laugh harder than any other movie this summer. Make that this year.
  3. 80
    It's not a sex movie but a parody, and the loose feel is part of its genius.
  4. Reviewed by: Dennis Harvey
    70
    Nearly half over before it finds a consistent groove, let alone a decent hit-to-miss joke ratio.
  5. Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    63
    The film keeps being yanked back from nothingness by this or that clever sendup, delivered by a small army of invigorated performers who seem to push off from one another's energy levels.
  6. 60
    A mess, bouncing nonsensically from one style of farce to another, leaving large vacuums and dead spots — which may themselves, of course, be deliberate.
  7. 60
    Like, you know, genius. But, like, you know, why?
  8. It's nice, once in a while, to come upon a movie that knows it's nothing special, proves it and doesn't care so long as its target audience feels good enough to have a refreshing beverage or two afterward.
  9. In essence, it's a ragged collection of bits and sketches cobbled into about a dozen plots, most of which call upon the cast to do a lot of tongue and neck-spraining French kissing.
  10. It comes out less like a spoof than a smart-aleck remake of "Meatballs," minus the energy of Bill Murray.
  11. The frantic proceedings are more likely to have you wishing this summer would just come to an end.
  12. 50
    Mostly it fails to score. Maybe that's why no one has attempted summer-camp comedy since the third "Meatballs" sequel a decade ago.
  13. Harmless enough, and its team of actors so frisky and enthusiastic that it manages to deliver a modicum of laughs despite itself.
  14. 50
    Lulls aside, Wain and Showalter deserve camp kudos for getting the details right.
  15. This low-budget comedy will most likely try the patience of a paying audience with its uneven pacing, wavering tone and poor production quality.
  16. Reviewed by: Claudia Plig
    38
    The writing here is rarely funny, and often trite and predictable. A couple of scenes are downright disturbing:
  17. 30
    Most of the scenes fall flatter than a lead soufflé, and the film's sight gags -- Andy dumping campers' bodies by the roadside, Gene humping the refrigerator -- are outrageous without actually being funny.
  18. The film exists in a humid meta-movie ether all its own.
  19. 25
    I want to escape, Oh, Muddah Faddah -- Life's too short for cinematic torture.
  20. 20
    A thoroughly inept piece of moviemaking. You're more likely to find a ham sandwich at a Passover seder than to find a laugh in this picture.
  21. Stumbles right out of the gate and never regains its footing. It's sad to see a gifted comedian like Janeane Garofalo trying, but failing, to anchor this mediocre affair.
  22. Doesn't swing, doesn't score, can't make it to first base, never even drags its sorry ass out of the dugout.
  23. This is supposed to be funny? It was so depressing I almost started to cry.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 61 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 41
  3. Negative: 3 out of 41
  1. If you don't like this movie, then you must be the most suffocatingly boring person ever. You must suck so bad that your mom punches herself in the face every day to atone for giving birth to you. People who don't like this movie likely get a huge stiffy thinking about tax season and professional golf. I hope all you haters severely burn the roofs of your mouths. Everyone should watch this movie. Period. Awesome throwback flick with a great cast. Crass, goofy, slapstick, you name it, this flick has it. Full Review »
  2. TommyH
    10
    Just look at the non-State cast that's in this film. Cooper, Banks, Poehler, Meloni, Pierce, Moreau, Rudd, Shannon, it's ridiculous. You think all these people got it wrong? Like they didn't all WANT to be in this flick? David Wain is a genius. ANYONE who says this movie is stupid can just drive their SUV off a cliff after picking up their fat children from Sunday School. It's beyond pathetic that I ever respected morons like Stephen Hunter of the Washington Post. This movie will not be accepted as legendary for at least another decade, but when it comes down to it, many of the actors who contributed to this work will look back on it as their finest of shining moments. I can't wait for Wain and Michael to come out with the prequel to Wet Hot. Buy the State on DVD!!!! Full Review »
  3. DeronW.
    8
    Anyone who has given this movie a bad review...I don't care if you're an intelligent, well-read, objective, observant person who has had years of experience - is completely missing the point. Once again, Owen Geliberman is the only one who gets it. It's borderline criminal how underappreciated this movie truly is, with its one-liners, subliminal disturbing scenes, the writing, the deliberate bad acting, everything. A must own for anyone born between 1970 and 1980. I have had friends fall on the floor laughing with how ridiculous this movie is, it nails all the stereotypes it aims for with style. Full Review »