‘Bad Counselors’ flirts with the divine
The summer camp shenanigans in “Bad Counselors” are not without sin, which is somewhat surprising given its faith-based origins. And Chris Dowling’s film is all the better for it. Yes, it’s preachy in places, but by going secular, its themes of atonement, redemption and self-respect go down so subtly that non-Christians are likely to find it as agreeable as true believers.
It’s certainly more fun than any Bible camp I attended as a heathen youth. Lord knows the counselors then could not compare with the extremely attractive volunteers here. I’m looking at you, Matt Cornett and Brec Bassinger, the featured stars who project the requisite wholesomeness, but also a lot of sex appeal as forbidden, yet platonic lovers. It’s literally baptism under fire for Cornett’s Grayson Fuller, the stereotypical frat boy sentenced to 120 hours of community service after a night of drunken debauchery.
He and his wise-cracking partner in crime, Tyler Newman (Ramon Reed), opt for the five-day summer camp option because they think it is the easiest, quickest way to burn the time owed to the county. What they don’t count on is finding the error of their drunken ways. And nothing better at sobering a wayward soul than the beautiful daughter of the preacher in charge. That would be Bassinger’s perky, fresh-faced Jenna.
Their flirtatious banter is charming and a wee bit naughty. Enough that it does not go unnoticed by Jenna’s former bad-boy father, Tom, perfectly played by “American Pie” vet Chris Klein. He’s basically his iconic Oz all grown up and respectable, overseeing a flock with no idea what a hellion Pastor Tom was in his heyday. It’s that experience in Eddie Haskell duplicity that renders him instantly suspicious of both Grayson and Tyler.
What ensues is painfully predictable, but pleasantly appealing, as the two interlopers go from faking it to gradually buying into what Pastor Tom and his becoming daughter are selling. Dowling helps make it go down easy by instilling heavy doses of authenticity in the highly relatable camp activities and the hanky-panky between camp counselors of the opposite sex. That includes McKaley Miller as the amorous Becky, who makes no bones about wanting to jump Tyler’s bones.
The sweetest moments, though, occur through the relationships Grayson and Tyler form with their assigned “camp buddies,” the esteem-free Patrick (Braydon Gleave) and the Goth-adjacent Shadow (Dominic Lopez). Like us, resistance is futile for the two Greeks as they discover there’s more to be gained through human connection than chugging brewskies.
The ending is a bit labored, with Camp Burning Bush becoming a prophecy that brings out the fire(hoses) and brimstone, as well as the on-the-nose life lessons. But overall, “Bad Counselors” earns its street cred, proving itself a highly entertaining, often moving message from on high. All I can say is, amen.
Movie review
Bad Counselors
Rated: PG-13 for suggestive material
Cast: Matt Cornett, Ramon Reed, Brec Bassinger, Chris Klein, McKaley Miller and Missi Pyle
Director: Chris Dowling
Writers: Taylor Grabowsky, Ryan Gunnarson and Dexter Masland
Runtime: 95 minutes
Where: In theaters July 22-27 only
Grade: B
