Magic Camp (film)

Magic Camp is a 2020 American comedy family film directed by Mark Waters. Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster, Matt Spicer, Max Winkler, Dan Gregor and Doug Mand serve as co-screenwriters, with an original story written by Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah, Spicer and Winkler. It stars Adam DeVine, Jeffrey Tambor and Gillian Jacobs. The film was released on Disney+ on August 14, 2020.

Magic Camp
Release poster
Directed byMark Waters
Produced by
Screenplay by
Story by
  • Gabe Sachs
  • Jeff Judah
  • Matt Spicer
  • Max Winkler
Starring
Music byRolfe Kent[1]
CinematographyTheo van de Sande
Edited by
Production
company
Walt Disney Pictures
Gunn Films
Team Todd
Distributed byDisney+
Release date
  • August 14, 2020 (2020-08-14)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$24 million[2]

Plot

Theo Moses, is a young boy who had lost his father, Devin, and copes by performing card tricks for himself. His mother, Zoe, reveals that he has been accepted into the Institute of Magic, a summer camp headed by the eccentric Roy Preston and he gladly attends, believing that his father had signed him before he passed. Meanwhile, Andy Tuckerman is a down-on-his-luck taxi driver and former magician who claims that he was betrayed by Kristina Darkwood, his former partner who now heads a solo act on the Las Vegas strip. Preston approaches Andy with the prospect of teaching at the camp so that he can regain his love of magic. Andy later discovers that Darkwood is teaching for the summer as well, bringing up his old grudge.

Preston reveals that the students will be split into different cabins and play for the top hat, which will be awarded to the winning cabin, and the golden wand which will be awarded to one student by the end of the summer. Andy gets assigned of leading the Hearts Cabin which consists of Theo as well as other students such as Nathan Jenkins, a boy with numerous allergies; Ruth Brusselbach, a girl obsessed with rabbits; Judd Kessler, the son of a famous magician who does not display any of the same talent; and Vera Costa, an anti-social girl. Darkwood leads the Diamonds Cabin which has the previous golden wand winner Vic who bullies the new attendees, but also has Janelle Santos, a kind girl who takes a liking to Theo. Andy soon learns that Preston purposely put him with the new students to train them.

Andy attempts to get out of teaching, especially since none of the kids are any good, but soon realizes that many of them have hidden talents. Aside from Theo's card tricks, he learns that Nathan can perform quick mathematical functions in his head and that Judd is better at creating costumes. Ruth discovers that she has an affinity for birds over bunnies while Vera begins to enjoy being with the other kids. Andy discovers that Theo suffers from stage fright and gets him to loosen up. He also reveals that his falling out from Darkwood came when she signed for a television deal behind his back and that her career took off while he fell into obscurity.

While disproving a trick, Vic supposedly burns Theo's cards. Theo is distraught as the cards were given to him by his father, but Andy and the rest of the kids bond with him and Janelle has a heart-to-heart talk with him. Later, the Diamonds sign off on all the equipment, leaving the Hearts with no props. Andy takes the team into town to use whatever they can find to train; showing off their acts in public. Darkwood tells Andy that she reprimanded her team for their acts and reveals that she was trying to sign both of them for the television deal as she felt that she could not do it on her own, but that he was angry and refused to speak with her about it. She tells him that she signed a matinee show for him the next day and he accepts, though this would mean having to miss on training his kids for the show that night.

The next day, Preston tells the kids that Andy is in Vegas performing and that he will take over training until he returns. After performing his show, Andy is offered the chance to perform the night show, leaving him conflicted. The kids' families arrive and they learn that Andy had taken the night show. Theo is nervous, but Preston gives him encouragement by revealing that his mother had signed him to the Magic Institute, having previously believed that she did not understand him. The kids perform with Andy having actually denied the Vegas show and has been watching them in secret. Theo finally overcomes his fears and performs a card trick detailing how he has his mother and brother to thank for his time at camp. The show is a success with the Hearts winning the top hat and Janelle winning the golden wand.

Afterwards, Preston hires Andy to be the talent administrator at the camp after him bailing on the Vegas show got him banned. He offers Darkwood to come teach at the camp and she agrees on the condition that he perform at her Vegas show on occasion. Vic apologizes to Theo by giving him his unharmed cards back, Judd comes out to his father about being into costumes which he proudly accepts, Ruth finally gets to play with a bunny while forming a close friendship with Vera, and Janelle and Theo share a kiss. The film ends with a new Institute of Magic acceptance video headed by Andy.

Cast
  • Adam DeVine as Andy Tuckerman, a counselor to the magic camp of his youth hoping to reignite his career.
  • Jeffrey Tambor as Roy Preston, the mentor and owner of the magic camp.
  • Gillian Jacobs as Kristina Darkwood, Andy's former partner
  • Nathaniel McIntyre as Theo Moses, a 12-year-old boy who attends the Magic Camp as he copes with his father's death.
  • Cole Sand as Nathan Jenkins, the best friend of Theo
  • Isabella Cramp as Ruth Brusselbach
  • J.J. Totah[Note 1] as Judd Kessler
  • Izabella Alvarez as Vera Costa
  • Hayden Crawford as Vic
  • Bianca Grava as Janelle Santos, Theo’s crush.
  • Aldis Hodge as Devin Moses, Theo's father
  • Rochelle Aytes as Zoe Moses, Theo's mother
  • Krystal Joy Brown as Lena
  • Desmond Chiam as Xerxes
  • Lonnie Chavis as Cameron Moses, Theo's younger brother
  • Michael Hitchcock as Korny Kessler
  • Michael Anastasia as Hamilton

Magician Justin Willman has a cameo as one of Andy's taxi fares. Willman, along with other actual magicians, helped the cast with performing the various tricks seen in the movie.

Production

On November 2, 2016, it was announced that Walt Disney Pictures had cast Adam DeVine and Jeffrey Tambor to star in the family comedy film Magic Camp, which would be directed by Mark Waters from a latest script by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, and a previous draft by Steve Martin.[3] DeVine would play Andy Tuckerman, a counselor to the magic camp of his youth hoping to reignite his career, while Tambor would play Roy Preston, the mentor and owner of the magic camp. Suzanne Todd would produce the film, while Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah would serve as executive producers.[3] It had been previously reported that the most recent draft of the script had been written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, the project having been developed by Matt Spicer and Max Winkler. Sachs, Judah, Spicer and Winkler would ultimately be credited with the story.[4] On November 9, 2016, Gillian Jacobs was cast as Kristina Darkwood, Andy's former partner.[5] On November 21, 2016, Cole Sand was cast as Nathan, the best friend of Theo (who would be played by Nathaniel McIntyre), a 12-year-old boy who attends the Magic Camp as he copes with his father's death.[6] On January 4, 2017, Josie Totah (then known as J.J. Totah)[Note 1] was cast as Judd.[7]

Principal photography on the film began on January 10, 2017 in and around Los Angeles.[8][9][10]

Release

The film was originally scheduled for a theatrical release on April 6, 2018 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, but on September 12, 2017, the film was delayed to August 3, 2018.[11][12] The theatrical release was finally canceled with Christopher Robin taking its slot. By February 2018, it was revealed that the film will instead be released as a Disney+ exclusive.[13] On August 14, 2020, the film was exclusively released on Disney+.[14]

Notes
  1. Totah is now known as Josie Totah following gender transition in 2018.

References
  1. "Rolfe Kent Scoring Mark Waters' Magic Camp". Film Music Reporter. August 25, 2017.
  2. Film and Television Tax Credit Program Program 2.0 (PDF) (Report). California Film Commission. p. 9. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  3. Kroll, Justin (November 2, 2016). "Adam DeVine and Jeffrey Tambor to Star in Disney's 'Magic Camp'". Variety. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  4. "'Mean Girls' Director To Make 'Magic Camp' For Disney". /Film. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  5. Kroll, Justin (November 9, 2016). "'Community' Star Gillian Jacobs Joins Jeffrey Tambor, Adam DeVine in 'Magic Camp' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  6. N'Duka, Amanda (November 21, 2016). "Shyrley Rodriguez & Chinese Stars Added To 'Pacific Rim 2'; Cole Sand Enrolls In 'Magic Camp'". Deadline. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  7. Kroll, Justin (2017-01-04). "'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Actor J.J. Totah Joins Adam DeVine in 'Magic Camp'". Variety. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  8. Evry, Max (January 10, 2017). "Magic Camp Begins Production with Jeffrey Tambor". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  9. Hogarty, Joe (January 18, 2017). "Filming For Disney's "Magic Camp" Has Begun - WDW News Today". WDW News Today. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  10. "Disney's Magic Camp Begins Shooting with Adam Devine & Gillian Jacobs". MovieWeb. January 10, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  11. Pamela, Pamela (September 12, 2017). "Disney Swaps Release Dates for 'Star Wars: Episode IX' and 'Aladdin'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  12. Lesnick, Silas (April 25, 2017). "Disney Movie Release Schedule Gets a Major Update". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  13. Fleming, Mike, Jr. (February 8, 2018). "Disney Unveils Inaugural Streaming Service Launch Slate To Town; No R-Rated Fare". Deadline. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  14. Taylor, Drew (July 16, 2020). "Here's Everything New on Disney Plus in August 2020". Collider. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
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