I'm Gonna Hack You In Two With A Hatchet

No, this week's TBT is not a horror flick. This just happens to be one of the most hilarious lines from a little known made for tv movie called Camp Cucamonga. For some reason, it's always been a family favorite. We were all able to get together this past weekend to celebrate my mother's birthday and there were several references, including part of the rap from the movie. Yup...that's just the kind of family we are.

The movie was released for television in September of 1990 basically just to display a plethora of popular television actors of the time, but ended up being a quality product despite some of the cheese. The title was briefly changed to How I Spent My Summer, but now can be found again under the original title. The all-star cast included Candace Cameron (Full House) and Jaleel White (Family Matters), which covered our TGIF days. Then we have Josh Saviano and Danica McKellar from The Wonder Years. We also get to see heartthrob Chad Allen from My Two Dads, Brian Robbins of Head of the Class, Sherman Hemsley of the Jeffersons and All in the Family, John Ratzenberger of Cheers, and Dorothy Lyman of Mama's Family. This is also the first movie credit for the most notable of cast members, Jennifer Anniston.

The movie brings several young people and camp counselors together for an entire summer. Much like high school, we have all different types of kids who are forced together: the popular kids, athletes, slackers, skaters, outsiders, etc. Obviously, awkward and hilarious situations arise because of this. Ratzenberger plays Col. Marv, the camp owner, who is running the camp for the first year. He has to make sure the camp keeps it's accreditation, but there is a case of mistaken identity and chaos ensues. Eventually, the group of campers band together and make a rap video to save the camp from going under. If you're looking for a fun, kind of campy family flick(no pun intended), you should give this one a try. If nothing else, you'll have fun reminiscing about all those old television shows and you can have a dance party to the Camp Cucamonga rap video. (Below is a shortened version)

Random fact: Cucamonga most likely means "sandy place" as opposed to various definitions that Col. Marv gives throughout the movie. According to him, Cucamonga means "enthusiasm" in Apache, "no monkey business" in Cheyenne, "camp spirit" in Navaho, "hospitality" in Hopi, "pleasant dreams" in Comanche, "nutrition" in Mohawk, "teamwork" in Paiute, "it's not how you play the game, it's whether you win or lose" in Shoshone, and "appreciation" in Shawnee.

~Songbird

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