Meatballs (film)
Overview
Meatballs is a 1979 Canadian comedy film
directed by Ivan Reitman
. It is noted for the first film appearance of Bill Murray
in a starring role and for launching Reitman into a distinguished career of financially successful comedies including Stripes
(1981) and Ghostbusters
(1984), both starring Murray. The film also introduced child actor
Chris Makepeace
in the role of Rudy Gerner. It was followed by several sequel
s, of which only Meatballs III: Summer Job (1986) had any connection to the original.
The title of the movie refers to an epithet
used in the film regarding the idiocy of one character, which is not further explained but which could perhaps refer to the unconventionality of the counsellors-in-training (CITs) and campers of the main summer camp in the story.
The film follows the antics of head counsellor Tripper Harrison (Bill Murray
) and the CITs at Camp North Star, a cut-rate summer camp
.
The main plot involves Rudy Gerner (Chris Makepeace
), a lonely kid who is sent to summer camp by his father.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Ivan Reitman
Ivan Reitman
Ivan Reitman, OC is a Canadian film producer and director. He is known for the comedies he has directed and produced, especially in the 1980s and 1990s.He is the owner of The Montecito Picture Company, founded in 2000.-Early life:...
. It is noted for the first film appearance of Bill Murray
Bill Murray
William James "Bill" Murray is an American actor and comedian. He first gained national exposure on Saturday Night Live in which he earned an Emmy Award and later went on to star in a number of critically and commercially successful comedic films, including Caddyshack , Ghostbusters , and...
in a starring role and for launching Reitman into a distinguished career of financially successful comedies including Stripes
Stripes (film)
Stripes is a 1981 American comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman, starring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, P. J. Soles, and John Candy. It also featured several actors in their first significant film roles, including John Larroquette, Sean Young, John Diehl, and Judge Reinhold. It was one...
(1981) and Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters is a 1984 American science fiction comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis and follows three eccentric parapsychologists in New York City, who start a...
(1984), both starring Murray. The film also introduced child actor
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
Chris Makepeace
Chris Makepeace
- Life and career :Makepeace was born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Doreen and Harry Makepeace. He began his acting career in a 1974 Canadian television special, The Ottawa Valley. His next role was in 1979's Canadian comedy, Meatballs, in which he starred opposite Bill Murray, playing one of the...
in the role of Rudy Gerner. It was followed by several sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
s, of which only Meatballs III: Summer Job (1986) had any connection to the original.
The title of the movie refers to an epithet
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
used in the film regarding the idiocy of one character, which is not further explained but which could perhaps refer to the unconventionality of the counsellors-in-training (CITs) and campers of the main summer camp in the story.
The film follows the antics of head counsellor Tripper Harrison (Bill Murray
Bill Murray
William James "Bill" Murray is an American actor and comedian. He first gained national exposure on Saturday Night Live in which he earned an Emmy Award and later went on to star in a number of critically and commercially successful comedic films, including Caddyshack , Ghostbusters , and...
) and the CITs at Camp North Star, a cut-rate summer camp
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
.
The main plot involves Rudy Gerner (Chris Makepeace
Chris Makepeace
- Life and career :Makepeace was born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Doreen and Harry Makepeace. He began his acting career in a 1974 Canadian television special, The Ottawa Valley. His next role was in 1979's Canadian comedy, Meatballs, in which he starred opposite Bill Murray, playing one of the...
), a lonely kid who is sent to summer camp by his father.
Quotations
[to Rudy] You must be the short depressed kid we ordered. Glad you made it.
[on loudspeaker] Attention. Here's an update on tonight's dinner. It was veal. I repeat, veal. The winner of tonight's mystery meat contest is Jeffrey Corbin who guessed "some kind of beef." Congratulations, Jeffery. You've just won a brand new Chrylser Cordoba and you can pick it up at Morty's office.
Are you ready for a good time?
The Sumer Camp That Makes You Untrustworthy, Disloyal, Unhelpful, Unfriendly, Discourteous, Unkind, Disobedient, and Very Hilarious.