"State Park" aka "Heavy Metal Summer" (with the former title being the best pick) was a Canadian comedy I've never even heard of before and it pretty much languishes in obscurity. However I feel that's undeserved. Sure I wouldn't call it memorable, as it's framed with conventional and goofy shenanigans, but it remains a surprisingly enjoyable and unassumingly breezy time-waster for its over-flooded sub-genre. While quite minor, it does deliver on the playful goods for a teen camp outing -- stereotypical characters springing up (always got a laugh out of the two clueless blonde beef heads), loud music (with a lively soundtrack), amusing dialogue exchanges, a moral to the antics, nothing but sunny weather, picturesque wilderness scenery, frequent nudity (topless shots and bare asses), a special neat cameo appearance (Ted Nugent jamming!) and someone (who's pretty easy to guess) in a bear costume called Willy (with quite a creative mind) fighting for the good of Weewankah State Park against a corrupt businessman who wants to turn it into a pesticide factory. How can you not find something to like? The spirited performances are all quite fun led by the likes of the beautiful and bubbling trio of Kim Myers (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2), Isabelle Mejias (Meatballs III: Summer Job) and Jennifer Inch. James Wilder and Peter Virgile are likable enough in their roles. Then you got Walter Massey and Brian Dooley superbly crafting out the characters you love to hate. A token, but pleasing and odd screwball blast.
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doctorgonzo2321 March 2003Seeing this movie really drives home the fact that the type of film making I associate with the 1980's really lasted untill the mid 90's. This is a film that relies on simple plot elements, lame jokes, some female frontal nudity and a surprise guest musician. It's not really laugh out loud funny, but some scenes should at least get you to chuckle. I don't want to disclose the name of the guest musician in the movie, but his appearance really helps to drive the film over the top. It's pretty predictable but if you're in the mood for something you don't need to even think a little bit about, rent it. Heavy Metal Summer must be the Canadian release title and State Park the American. I doubt there are any differences past the title. It's filmed in Ontario and even if you hate the movie, the scenery is nice.
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BandSAboutMovies4 May 2020Also known as Heavy Metal Summer, this movie seems to be about Johnny Rocket and drummer Louis, who are on their way to Los Angeles to be part of the Sunset Strip hair metal scene in the three years they have left before "Nevermind" comes out.
It's also about Eve (Kim Myers, A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 2) trying to win the Weewankah Wilderness Challenge so she can go to college. She's helped by Linnie (Jennifer Inch, Screwballs) and Marsha (Isabelle Mejias, Julie Darling in the flesh!), but more. importantly, those two just want to hook up with guys.
This movie from Screwballs director Rafal Zielinski, who also made Last Resort with the Coreys and Recruits. Somehow, he was able to get Ted Nugent to show up for this movie, which shows how close Detroit and Canada really are. Actually, the movie is set in Michigan, despite being filmed up north. And by up north, I don't mean Northern Michigan.
Man, that's a joke you'd only get if you were from Michigan, which may be another reason why this movie isn't so well known. -
Wuchakk1 April 2021Several youths converge on a State Park in Michigan, which is threatened by a mogul who wants to usurp the land of a family that does business with the swimmers & campers, not to mention dump toxic waste nearby. James Wilder and Kim Myers play the main protagonists.
"State Park" (1988) was also known as "Heavy Metal Summer" on video. It's a goofy B comedy focusing on summer camp, just not in the usual sense of youths going to camp together as an organized group à la "Meatballs" (1979). While this is a low-budget production and technically a "bad movie," it's superior in all-around entertainment. And entertainment is the name of the game. Yes, it's sometimes over-the-top silly, but it has a good cast, a picturesque setting, a compelling story, a quality 80's soundtrack and a famous hard rock musician makes a surprise appearance.
On the female front, Myer as Eve is super-cute, even stunning in a young Meryl Streep kind of way; you might remember her from "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2" (1985) or, more likely, as Pam on the 1996 Seinfeld episode "The Soul Mate." Meanwhile Isabelle Mejias plays Marsha and I like her story arc with the punk-metal dude. Then there's Jennifer Inch as Linnie; she's winsome and has a notable soft feminine voice. On the other side of the gender spectrum, James Wilder has the 'cool' factor of Peter Fonda, albeit a little shorter.
I can't fail to mention the entertaining subplot about the two metal rockers. The drummer (Louis Tucci) is reminiscent of Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue. It's amusing when they finally perform live because (1) they're not very heavy or extreme at all and (2) the singer sounds like a woman; of course the reason is because it was Rachel Sweet singing the song on the soundtrack (it's just part of the joke, I guess). "Love is Like a Chainsaw" is one of the songs. The female vocal lines and spirit reminded me of "Living in America" by The Sounds, released 14 years later. I guess everything old is new again, huh?
Besides Rachel Sweet, the soundtrack includes the likes of Ted Nugent and TT Quick amongst others.
This is just a fun flick that captures the magic of the mid/late 80s (because that's when it was shot); turn off your brain and enjoy.
The film runs 1 hour, 27 minutes, and was shot at Mont-Tremblant National Park & the corresponding Lac Monroe, Québec, which are located a little over an hour's drive northwest of Montreal.
GRADE: B. -
rachel-c-willis1625 December 2018Do yourself a favor and watch a candidate for best worst movie.