The fathers are back from Daddy Day Care and ready to take on the challenges of running a day camp in Fred Savage’s follow up to 2003’s popular family film. Swapping Murphy for Gooding Jr. and Garlin for Rae, Camp picks up where its predecessor left off with a similar tone and endearing, though expected, progression. Immediate comparisons to the more adult-tinged camp movie Meatballs may be drawn, but Daddy Day Camp makes it clear who its target audience is and doesn’t shy away from the kid-friendly rambunctious pranks and childish gibes.

Fresh from their success with Daddy Day Care, Charlie Hinton (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and Phil Ryerson (Paul Rae) recklessly dive into running a day camp when Charlie refuses to let his son Ben (Spencir Bridges) experience a disastrous camp ordeal similar to his own childhood fiasco. In addition to the multitude of maintenance issues arising from the rundown camp Charlie acquires, he must also contend with the nearby competitive Camp Canola, run by his childhood nemesis Lance Warner (Lochlyn Munro). After a chaotically dismal first day that more than halves their clientele, Charlie’s wife convinces him to enlist the aid of his strict military father, Colonel Buck (Richard Grant). Initially respecting his son’s request to keep a civil head about the constant torment and rivalrous raids from Camp Canola, Buck and the children decide to fight back and compete in the intercamp Olympiad, an event that will require intensive training, a little luck, and a little brainpower to outsmart Lance and his unscrupulous minions.

Character makes up half of the film’s appeal, and while some of the kids’ personalities seem a tad stereotypical, most are creatively quirky and their performances feel more genuine than those found in typical mischievous children’s movies. Most often their reactions alone garner the laughs and provide a refreshing nostalgia for those with similar childhood raucousness and mishaps (though hopefully the crashing school bus was a work of pure fiction). Cuba Gooding Jr. adequately replaces Eddie Murphy as Charlie Hinton and may even be better suited for the role as his demeanor gravitates more towards overprotective father than animated obnoxiousness. Speaking of obnoxious personalities, the film’s antagonist Lance Warner hordes enough screen time to become just that, though his energy and brazen sarcasm balance out the immaturity so his character doesn’t outstay his welcome. And before he can get too carried away, his sidekick “son” always manages to step in to handle the silliest taunts, which often results in some of the more ironically humorous segments in the film.

Daddy Day Camp skirts the overly preachy approach and sticks mainly to the childish fun, a credit to director Fred Savage and his goal of entertainment first. Of course there are lessons to be learned, but most take a backseat to the hijinks and don’t feel fully realized upon a more careful examination. While there are still a few tired speeches and a less-than-original storyline, for the most part the misadventures stay amusing and the film never drowns in overly emotional waters. Egging raids, hazardous animals, and cheerfully preposterous montages sustain the lighthearted atmosphere, which might make you wish you were a kid again so you could more readily accept and appreciate the nonstop shenanigans, or perhaps relieved not to become enthralled by such absurdity. Either way it’s a shame the plot doesn’t dare tread in anything more ambitious than what’s expected.

Though Daddy Day Camp benefits from authentically unruly child performances and an appropriate turn by the film’s adults, the rather rehashed plotline will likely not appeal to older audiences. And because the film specifically caters towards the younger crowd, don’t expect any hidden innuendo or disguised adult humor a la Shrek. However, this Camp will certainly appease its real target audience with a likeable cast, silly slapstick pranks, and over-the-top villain. It may be wiser to drop the kids off rather than stay yourself (depending on how much of your inner child is still alive) but the lighthearted tone and commendable morals make this camp accessible to more than just kids.

- Joel Massie