movie review family camp

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• DVD & Streaming

Family Camp

• Christian , Comedy

Content Caution

In Theaters

• May 13, 2022
• Tommy Woodard as Tommy Ackerman; Eddie James as Eddie Sanders; Leigh-Allyn Baker as Grace Ackerman; Gigi Orsillo as Victoria Sanders; Cece Kelly as Hannah Ackerman; Jacob M Wade as Henry Ackerman; Elias Kemuel as Ed Jr. Sanders; Keslee Blalock as Barb Sanders; Mark Christopher Lawrence as Pastor Dave; Robert Amaya as Joel; Heather Land as Cookie; Myke Holmes as Slim; Weston Vrooman as Beef; Brandon Potter as Bramberger

Home Release Date

• June 28, 2022
• Brian Cates

Distributor

• Roadside Attractions

Positive Elements   |   Spiritual Elements   |   Sexual & Romantic Content   |   Violent Content   |   Crude or Profane Language   |   Drug & Alcohol Content   |   Other Noteworthy Elements   | Conclusion

Movie Review

Tommy Ackerman has nothing against church. Hey, the guy goes to church for, like, whole minutes at a time.

He appreciates family, too. Why, his family’s the reason why that he spends most of his time working. It’s not like Hannah’s going to pay for college herself , right? Certainly not when she spends all her time buried in her phone screen. And 10-year-old Henry? Well, he needs support, too. Monetary support.

Tommy doesn’t even have anything against camp, either. At least not in theory.

But church-based family camp?

“Church camp is just so … Jesus-y ,” he tells wife, Grace.

But Grace is unswayed. She believes that family camp just might be the ticket to patching the holes in this leaky clan of hers—the key to keeping this nuclear unit from going nuclear. It’s great that Tommy’s such a good provider, she tells him. But his kids need more. She needs more. “We barely get to see you,” Grace tells Tommy. “And when we do, you’re not present.”

So Tommy reluctantly acquiesces, and the Ackermans head to camp—high expectations, bad attitudes and several smartphones in tow. And hey, maybe Grace is right. Maybe it will give them an opportunity to reconnect as a family.

But once they arrive, the Ackermans discover they’re not the only family with which they’ll be connecting.

Due to a bit of a mix-up, Tommy’s family will be sharing a yurt with the Sanders clan, led by the back-cracking, harmonica-loving, prayer-pontificating Eddie Sanders. Eddie and his family quickly consecrate the yurt as “holy ground,” and Eddie insists on separating into into a boys’ half and girls’ half. The whole family plans to stick to the WWJE diet at camp, which is distinctly lacking in barbecue.

And Eddie takes great pride in the fact that the Sanders (Sanderses?) have won the camp’s competition trophy for the last two years. Why not make it three? Because if there’s one thing that Eddie loves almost as much as Jesus, it’s trophies.

Family camp will just last a week, which perhaps is a bit of solace for Tommy Ackerman. But while 2 Peter 3:8 tells us that “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years,” a day with Eddie Sanders just feels that long.

Buckle up, Tommy. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Positive Elements

Tommy and Eddie don’t share much in common. What do they share? A love of their respective families—even if they sometimes struggle to show it as they should.

Before camp, Tommy tended to lose himself in work, and Grace was right when she told him that he needed to reconnect with his growing children. He does so, ultimately—especially with his son, Henry. The two have struggled as of late: Henry would much rather create nature documentaries (which he narrates in an Australian accent) than play sports. But the boy still desperately wants to make his pops proud. Turns out, Tommy couldn’t be prouder of Henry, even if he doesn’t understand the whole nature doc thing: “You’re perfect just the way you are,” he says.

But we see that Grace and daughter Hannah need to shore up their own relationship, too. With Hannah leaving home soon, Grace hoped that she and Hannah could use camp to find some good mother-daughter time. That doesn’t happen, really, but Hannah realizes toward the end of camp just how much she and Grace mean to each other—and how much they always will. “Mom, I’m going to need you for everything,” she says.

If Tommy has been guilty of disengaging a little too much from his family before camp, Eddie might have erred the other way. He and his wife, Victoria, are struggling—in large part because of Eddie’s domineering nature. Eddie worries about his fraternal twins, too. “I love them so much,” he confesses. “And yet I’m still afraid I’m going to mess them up somehow.” Camp proves to be a bit of an ointment for him and Victoria, though it doesn’t come without cost.

And without giving too much away, the Ackermans and Sanderses find and form their own hard-earned bonds. Confession and forgiveness form a central theme here. And, as we’ll see, they might edge a little closer to God—or at least God-honoring principles—as well.

Spiritual Elements

Family Camp is targeted at a faith-based audience. The movie understands that it doesn’t need a literal come-to-Jesus moment for its characters, because most of its viewers have already had that moment. Rather, this story is a little bit more about the place where most of us are at: What does it mean to live as a Christian should live? How does our faith impact our family? Our friendships? Ourselves?

We do hear some thoughtful theological ruminations at times. Someone says that, if God’s in control of the chaos He’s seen, “I’m not sure if I’m that interested in faith.” When another character regurgitates the old cliché that “God doesn’t make junk,” it comes with added poignancy.

But many of the movie’s most overtly spiritual elements are used more to foster inside jokes—Christians making jokes at the “expense” of Christians that (most) Christians will get and appreciate.

For instance: As Tommy and his family drive to camp, his vehicle is cut off by another SUV. The vanity plate on the offending vehicle reads “BLESSED.”

For instance: Eddie’s elaborate blessing ceremony of the camp yurt, which includes a harmonica-accompanied hymn, references to the land of Goshem and a “big spiritual hug.” When Eddie showily prays over his entire family later that evening—dabbing a bit of oil on each family member’s head with a dropper—Tommy feels as though he must follow suit—even though he’s clearly never prayed over his family before. “Pretty sure God knows our names, Dad,” Hannah sighs after Tommy introduces them to Him.

For instance: When Eddie saves Tommy from choking on a piece of meat, the meal’s attendees applaud. “Just doing the Lord’s work,” Eddie says. He tries to deflect praise to the Almighty, then amends his statement: “OK, [it was] a little bit me, but mostly Him,” he says.

We could go on. We hear references to Dave Ramsey and vegan Gospel choirs. We hear a Christian form of “Baby Shark”. The Sanders family brings a couple of gerbils to camp, one of which is apparently named “Little Billy Graham.” Someone quips that “when God closes a door, he opens a Chick-fil-A.” We hear many jokes predicated on an insider’s knowledge of evangelical Christianity, and I don’t want to spoil all of them.

Someone is called “Lucifer.” The camp’s opening ceremony includes torches representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We hear a mention of evolution, to which the mentioner is told, “We don’t say the ‘E’ word here.” We hear a reference to speaking in tongues. A scene takes place in a church.

Sexual & Romantic Content

Hannah hits it off with a boy in camp, and she spends most of her time with him (much to Grace’s chagrin). Nothing physical takes place: Their one potential kiss is interrupted by circumstance. But this budding romance is clearly a point of concern for Grace. (She says the boy’s intentions are probably “God only knows what.”)

Eddie flirts with his wife, and Victoria reminds him that the children are watching. “How do you think they got there?” he teases. He compliments Tommy’s wife as well. Being a chiropractor, he notices Grace’s “lovely neck.” (He reassures Tommy that he’s just speaking professionally.)

Henry films most everything, and he records sister Hannah on the drive up to camp. “Stop filming your sister,” Tommy tells him. “It’s creepy.”

After Eddie’s stung by bees, he’s in need of an emergency shot, which needs (he tells prospective shot-giver Tommy) to be injected in Eddie’s thigh or buttock. Tommy rejects the buttock, and he reluctantly (and comically) massages Eddie’s thigh to prepare it for the injection.

The camp’s director and cook seem to get a bit chummy.

Violent Content

Eddie’s encounter with the bees leads to a seriously swollen face. The first anti-venom shot that Tommy tries to inject instead goes (painfully) into Eddie’s hand. The next one hits its intended mark, but it seems equally painful.

A game of full-contact soccer (for the camp competition) involves family members donning inflatable shells. Several participants are knocked over and rolled about after being aggressively “tackled,” and one player flees from contact.

Someone gets pushed into a lake. Someone else falls in. Two people wrestle in another body of water, and a mustache is yanked. Tommy hits his head on a rock and is knocked unconscious. A beaver is nearly run over. Eddie, being a chiropractor, cracks a number of spines and joints. One recipient falls over afterward. An ATV blows up from a fiery arrow. A flaming marshmallow finds its way onto someone’s head.

[ Spoiler Warning ] Eddie and Tommy are captured by zealous, um, hunters . The kidnappees are overcome by tranquilizer darts, then tied to a tree and left possibly to die. When Tommy and Eddie encounter them again, the hunters are beaten and overcome—so much that Tommy worries that one might be dead.

Crude or Profane Language

None, though Eddie does call Tommy “Bucko” frequently.

Drug & Alcohol Content

Other noteworthy elements.

Eddie and Tommy consider stealing an ATV. A child runs off into the woods by himself. (He has the best of intentions, but he worries his mother nearly to death.) Henry gets car sick (off camera). Someone lies, but that lie comes with consequences.

Christian comedy.

For some, the words are mutually exclusive. Christians don’t laugh, some in the secular world believe. A few Christians, honestly, seem to believe it, too.

But it goes just beyond stereotype. Christian comedy—and by that I’m not talking just clean comedy, but comedy predicated on Christianity—is hard to master. Talk Christianity, and you’re talking about a truth that brings meaning to everything we do. You’re talking about a faith that we should hold as our most precious possession. So when you’re mining that precious thing for a few yucks, the perils are great. Secular audiences might not get it. Christian audiences might be offended.

Tommy Woodard and Eddie James, known collectively as the Skit Guys, have been living on that line for a while now. Performing together since high school, the two have carved a faith-based niche for themselves, writing and performing skits for churches, conferences and other Christian gatherings. Family Camp is their first feature-length film.

“You’re laughing as something you’re watching, you’re probably going to be more apt to listen to whatever they have to say,” James says in a promotional video for Family Camp . “And then you just got to have something good to say. And we believe the word of God is the best thing to talk about.”

Yeah, Family Camp is funny. It’s slick, too, in a good way. This feels like a solid Hollywood laugher with a bunch of pretty talented people in front and behind the camera. And if the characters sometimes feel a bit inconsistent or the film tries a little too hard to draw a laugh, it doesn’t take away from the real pleasure Family Camp offers. The smiles and laughs this film earns are genuine.

Naturally, being a Christian film, it doesn’t have nearly the content issues we’d be discussing if this was a secular comedy—even a relatively family friendly one. It does engage in some slapstick humor, and a few jokes can stray just a teensy bit into the bathroom or bedroom. But you’re not going to see a secular movie this clean this side of 1957.

And, of course, the messages here—of forgiveness, of repentance, of what it means to be a family—are all spot on.

No, Family Camp probably isn’t for everybody. Sometimes, laughing at ourselves can be a hard thing to do. But Family Camp shows that Christian comedy isn’t just possible, it can be quite good, too.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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‘Family Camp’ Review: Born to Be Mild

There’s little new in this comedy about parents and kids on a church outing in the wilderness.

• Share full article

By Nicolas Rapold

Dad humor abounds in “Family Camp,” a vanishingly mild comedy that resembles other films about parents and kids bumbling in the wilderness. The lessons about being good to your folks are the same; “family is family,” to quote the absolutely undeniable title of one song in the film. But this summer trip, replete with cabins (or yurts) and goofy activities, is a church outing: the family that prays together, glamps together.

Tommy (Tommy Woodard) can’t tear himself away from work and be “present” with his wife, Grace (Leigh-Allyn Baker). They head to camp with their teenage daughter (Cece Kelly) and camera-wielding son (Jacob M. Wade). Tommy gets into a keeping-up-with-the-Joneses rivalry with Eddie (Eddie James), another dad, who rallies his wife, Victoria (Gigi Orsillo), and kids like a motivational team leader. He serves as the eager-beaver counterpart to Tommy’s phoned-in approach to worship.

As Eddie, James mugs furiously, while Woodard’s low-key wisecracks struggle to register, making their long hike in the film’s second half feel even longer. (The two have a following as a podcast and performance duo called “The Skit Guys.”) As for Grace and Victoria, their concerns are phrased in terms of feeling overshadowed or neglected by their husbands. And “Meatballs” this is not: a rude boy’s interest in Tommy and Grace’s daughter ends up getting shut down.

The film wasn’t screened for review by critics but it cracked the top 10 in the weekend box office, just behind “The Northman,” which I personally preferred as an outdoor adventure.

Family Camp Rated PG. Running time: 1 hour 51 minutes. In theaters.

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Family Camp

In this faith-based comedy, when two polar-opposite families are forced to camp together, the dads struggle to hold onto their families and marriages as they compete for the coveted camp tro... Read all In this faith-based comedy, when two polar-opposite families are forced to camp together, the dads struggle to hold onto their families and marriages as they compete for the coveted camp trophy. In this faith-based comedy, when two polar-opposite families are forced to camp together, the dads struggle to hold onto their families and marriages as they compete for the coveted camp trophy.

• Brian Cates
• Rene Gutteridge
• Tommy Woodard
• Eddie James
• Leigh-Allyn Baker
• 75 User reviews
• 6 Critic reviews
• 1 win & 1 nomination

Top cast 31

• Tommy Ackerman

• Eddie Sanders

• Grace Ackerman

• Victoria Sanders

• Hannah Ackerman

• Pastor Dave

• Henry Ackerman
• (as Jacob Michael Wade)

• Barb Sanders
• (as Keslee Grace Blalock)

• Ed Jr Sanders

• Kapoor's Secretary
• Pastor Dave's Daughter
• (as Harmoni Florence Hampton)
• Hipster Worship Leader
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Eddie and Tommy have been best friends since high school, over 30 years!
• Connections Featured in Chrissie Mayr Podcast: Leigh-Allyn Baker (2022)
• Soundtracks Love Will Make the Sound Performed by Ben Kilgore Written by Ben Kilgore and Don Chaffer Published by Gwain Music (ASCAP) and Hey Ruth Music (ASCAP) Courtesy of Gold Sounds LLC

User reviews 75

• LiveLoveLead
• May 15, 2022
• How long is Family Camp? Powered by Alexa
• March 30, 2022 (Portugal)
• United States
• FAMILY CAMP Official Website
• official website
• Guthrie, Oklahoma, USA (Camp)
• Provident Films
• Reserve Entertainment
• Skit Guys Studios
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 51 minutes

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Popular culture

“family camp,” from the skit guys, is a surprising christian comedy, may 12, 2022 - blake atwood.

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Image courtesy of Family Camp Movie.

The joy of watching a comedy comes from its unexpected nature.

We laugh when we’re surprised by a well-timed joke, or from an unexpected pratfall, or when an outrageous situation arises. To that end, this review won’t spoil the comedy to be found in Family Camp .

But take it from my six-year-old son, with whom I co-wrote this movie review. Barely a few minutes into the film, he turned to me and said, “This is definitely already getting funny.”

He was right about that.

However, as the movie progressed, he was right about much more—much to my detriment.

What is Family Camp about?

Family Camp , the first feature-length movie from The Skit Guys , is a faith-based, family-friendly comedy that follows the plights of the Ackerman and Sanders families during their stay at a summer church camp. The driving conflict involves winning the Camp Katokwah Trophy, but deeper and more meaningful conflicts emerge as the movie progresses.

If you’re familiar with the decades-long work of The Skit Guys, it should come as no surprise that this film is chiefly a comedy. But there’s heart to it, and a few pointed messages. Somehow, The Skit Guys made a movie that is simultaneously overboard at moments and yet sincere on the whole.

The film is one part The Parent Trap : the families are forced to room together. It’s also The Odd Couple : in the second act, the dads must learn to deal with each other’s wildly divergent personalities. And it’s a dash of Caddyshack , for reasons you’ll understand after seeing the movie.

Family Camp is a distinctly Christian film in both its message and its humor, with jokes about Dave Ramsey, essential oils, evolution, Billy Graham, and a barely audible mention of a “smokin’ hot mother.” Slapstick comedy also abounds. If there’s an opportunity for a head to be hit—by a frisbee, a log, or nearly anything else—it will be hit.

But Family Camp is not a Christian movie in the pejorative sense. The film had opportunities to veer into the banal sentimentality or spiritual cliches that tend to mar specifically Christian films. Yet the story stayed focused on its compelling (and sometimes quirky) characters. The snappy editing moved the plot along. And, as with better comedy movies, its serious moments are sprinkled throughout, adding just enough weight to provide a meaningful foundation to a story that exists first to make you laugh and then to make you feel.

This shouldn’t be surprising: as the real-life Tommy and Eddie said in their interview on The Denison Forum Podcast (which you may watch below), their ministry has always been about “humor, heart, and him [God].

“What is Family Camp really about?

The film wastes little time in getting to the heart. An early scene lays bare a central conflict: When they first arrive at Camp Katokwah, Grace Ackerman tells her workaholic husband, Tommy: “I need you to be here with me.”

Tommy (played by Tommy Woodard) loves golf and works hard to provide for his family but is distant from them, even when he’s with them. Later, he also admits to his pastor, “I think God and I are OK . . . Church is another thing on my list.”

Disclaimer: I am a dad who loves golf and works hard to provide for his family. I can also be distant even when present. And I can attest to sometimes considering church as just another thing on my to-do list.

During a scene when the families are roasting marshmallows, Tommy wears a powder-blue quarter-zip pullover—golfer attire. When my son saw that, he asked me, “Did you act in this?”

I was, in fact, at that very moment, wearing the exact quarter-zip as Tommy.

As if I hadn’t already felt convicted.

Throughout the film, Tommy fights the urge to answer his phone to “close a big work deal.” After one such call on-screen, my son told me, “He’s exact same person as you, on a bunch of calls and stuff.”

Dads, you’ve been warned.

The messiness of life

However, Tommy isn’t the only one with problems.

Eddie Sanders (played by Eddie James) and his wife, Victoria, appear like a loving, Christian family, but all is not well behind the scenes. After one scene in which Victoria opens up to Grace, my son told me to “put ‘sad’ on there,” referring to our notes for this movie review.

When Tommy and Eddie eventually fight each other in a lake, my son said, “Put ‘mean story’ on there.”

And when the husbands make a grand escape in the surprising third act, my son said this movie “is gonna make you stressed out.”

Sad. Mean. Stress.

What I take from his simple, unvarnished review is that Family Camp captures life in its fallen mess. We cry with each other. We get mad at each other. We endure stressful situations. And yet we can laugh with each other.

My son may understand Ecclesiastes better than I do: there is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (3:4).

In the final act, Tommy and Eddie become literally lost in the woods. Then they have a rather unique mountaintop experience. When Tommy and Eddie are forced to work together to get back to the camp, Tommy speaks the change he knows he needs to make: “I need to find true north.”

His resolution isn’t surprising, but it is necessary.

Is Family Camp good?

Ultimately, Family Camp will make families laugh.

It may also be a conduit for hard conversations between husbands and wives who’ve found themselves unintentionally drifting apart over time.

And it may help some viewers reconnect with God.

For such a broad comedy, that is an unexpected joy.

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Family Camp Reviews

Family Camp is a dreadfully unfunny ripoff of other comedies about families at a vacation campground. The kid characters are nice, but their annoying parents unfortunately get most of the screen time. It's formulaic junk that goes from bad to worse.

Full Review | May 29, 2022

It’s a funny acknowledgment of the quirkiness we sometimes see in our churches. Viewers who haven’t spent time in these Christian circles won’t find the film as amusing.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | May 20, 2022

These guys simply aren't funny, so already withering material completely falls apart in their hands.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | May 17, 2022

A vanishingly mild comedy that resembles other films about parents and kids bumbling in the wilderness.

Full Review | May 16, 2022

The Skit Guys have answered faith-based movie lovers' prayers: This is easily the best Christian comedy made to date. With excellent production values, solid direction, and fantastic comedy chops from the cast, Family Camp is a winner.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | May 13, 2022

Family Camp Movie

Who's Involved:

Robert Amaya, Mark Christopher Lawrence, Eddie James, Tommy Woodard, Gigi Orsillo, Leigh-Allyn Baker, Heather Land, Brian Cates, Cece Kelly, Rene Gutteridge

Release Date:

Friday, May 13, 2022 Limited

Plot: What's the story about?

When their pastor encourages the congregation to sign-up for a week away at family camp, Grace (Leigh-Allyn Baker) believes she’s found the perfect cure for her imperfect clan—even if they’d all rather be anywhere but at rustic Camp Katokwah. The first feature film from The Skit Guys—Tommy Woodard and Eddie James—Family Camp is a laugh-out-loud comedy that is sure to touch the hearts and tickle the funny bones of every family member from eight to eighty.

official plot version

4.79 / 5 stars ( 24 users)

Poll: Will you see Family Camp?

Who stars in Family Camp: Cast List

Tommy Woodard

Eddie James

Leigh-Allyn Baker

Gigi Orsillo

Running The Bases  

Robert Amaya

Moms' Night Out, Champion  

Heather Land

Mark Christopher Lawrence

The Chronicles of Rick Roll  

Who's making Family Camp: Crew List

A look at the Family Camp behind-the-scenes crew and production team.

Brian Cates

Screenwriters

Brian Cates Rene Gutteridge

Production Company

Provident Films

Watch Family Camp Trailers & Videos

Official Trailer

Production: what we know about family camp.

• The first feature film from The Skit Guys—Tommy Woodard and Eddie James.

Filming Timeline

• 2022 - March : The film was set to Completed  status.

Family Camp Release Date: When was the film released?

Family Camp was a Limited release in 2022 on Friday, May 13, 2022 . There were 17 other movies released on the same date, including Firestarter , Love in Kilnerry and Private Property . As a Limited release, Family Camp will only be shown in select movie theaters across major markets. Please check Fandango and Atom Tickets to see if the film is playing in your area.

Family Camp DVD & Blu-ray Release Date: When was the film released?

Family Camp was released on DVD & Blu-ray on Tuesday, June 28 , 2022 .

Q&A Asked about Family Camp

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Family Camp Parent Guide

This painful film serves only to confirm stereotypical misapprehensions about people of faith..

Theaters: This camp promises spiritual reflection and family fun: it delivers smack talk and intense competitions.

Release date May 12, 2022

Run Time: 111 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by rod gustafson.

I am a person of faith who appreciates those rare cinematic gems that deftly weave the struggles and blessings that come to those who journey on the path of finding God. In Family Camp there are struggles and blessings, as well as characters journeying on a literal path. But where it leads is far from a carefully crafted message extolling the benefits of enduring faith and God.

As the title promises, this movie takes place at a church camp where families presumably come together to seek spiritual reflection while having some fun. The Ackerman family doesn’t seem to be finding much of either. Any hope their pastor (Mark Christopher Lawrence) had of helping them and other families, like the Sanders, come and reap the joy of a religious retreat is lost in a never-ending itinerary of competitive matchups that only bring the worst out of these campers. Instead of opportunities to become good sports, the lead characters find more satisfaction exchanging smack talk and slapstick violence – two ingredients that take up the vast majority of the screen time.

The script’s journey has an ending more predictable than the “amen” at the end of a rousing benediction. And the pews of this cinematic church are stuffed with stereotyped characters that seem to be irresistible choices for filmmakers. But the biggest question I have is, to whom are these movie creators hoping to give this somewhat irreverent and always clichéd sermon? Watching this film made me squirm in my seat while I thought of any non-believer that might have accidently bought a ticket to this romp. Certainly, such souls would only have confirmed all their misinformed beliefs about people of faith. Fortunately, the handful of people sharing the enormous theater with me were frequently laughing… I can only assume they are part of the choir to whom this movie was intended to preach.

About author

Rod Gustafson

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Family Camp Rating & Content Info

Why is Family Camp rated PG? Family Camp is rated PG by the MPAA for some action and thematic elements

Violence: The screenplay features mild violence that is played for laughs, yet often feels meanspirited. Characters drive reckless and have feelings of road rage. Characters tell lies throughout the script. Family members argue and squabble, and husbands and wives struggle with their relationships. First aid is administered to a character who is choking: hitting, thumping, and spitting are involved. A character’s business partner tries to steal his client. Competition between campers turns ugly, resulting in pushing, shoving, and gloating. A character is swarmed by bees. Grown men engage in childish fighting. Characters become lost in the wilderness, leaving family members to worry about their safety. People are shot with tranquilizer darts, tied up, threated with weapons, and left to the mercy of wild animals. Characters fall into water – accidentally and when they are pushed. Characters steal from others. A vehicle explodes after being shot with a flaming arrow. A character uses his medical knowledge to intentionally incapacitate others. Sexual Content: A man hugs strangers so tightly that their bones crack. Married couples embrace. Mild sexual innuendo is heard. A teenaged couple flirt: the girl confesses she has never been kissed. Later, when the girl resists a kiss from the boy, he accuses her of being a tease. Profanity: Name-calling and mocking are frequent. Characters insult one another and make spiteful accusations. Terms of deity are heard. Alcohol / Drug Use: An injection is administered to stop an allergic reaction. Characters pass out after being shot with tranquilizer darts.

Page last updated January 13, 2024

Family Camp Parents' Guide

Amidst the ridiculous behavior of the characters in this movie, the script occasionally inserts some more serious dialogue. What is the minister trying to teach Tommy about the role of parents when he shows him a compass? How do you feel about fathers being a guide for their families? Although Eddie embraces such a role, what are the results of his interpretation of leadership? What things could you try to do in your family to get that balance right?

When Grace complains that her family is coming up short next to Victoria’s, she is told to “peek behind the curtain”.  What does Victoria mean?  Why might the way we present ourselves in public be different than the way we live in private? Should we be more transparent? Why is it best to be cautious about comparing ourselves with others?

Related home video titles:

Audiences looking for Christian comedy may appreciate the challenges faced by a group of women from the same church community when they decide to take a Moms’ Night Out . The more serious Lilies of the Field offers an insightful and nuanced view of its characters who have various ideas about how to express their faith.

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4 Things You Should Know about Family Camp , the Faith-Based Comedy Starring the Skit Guys

• Michael Foust Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
• Published May 13, 2022

Tommy Ackerman is a middle-aged father who loves his wife, his kids and his job. Especially his job .

As his wife sees it, he's either at work, on the golf course, or on his cell phone.

"We barely get to see you," she says.

But she has a plan to get him away from work and with the family: a vacation at Camp Katokwah, a scenic retreat by a lake. And with their church sponsoring an upcoming trip, the trek will have a spiritual element, too.

Ackerman begrudgingly agrees to go.

Unfortunately, though, the trip doesn't go as planned. First off, they're forced to double up with another family. If that wasn't bad enough, their accommodations – a yurt – leave a lot to be deserved. And that other family? They're awkward. And loud. And annoying.

"My choice would have been Maui," Ackerman says.

Can the Ackermans find the peace and quiet they need to bond?

The new faith -based film Family Camp (PG) tells the story of Tommy Ackerman, his wife Grace Ackerman, and their yurt neighbors, the Sanders.

Here are four things you should know:

Photo courtesy: ©Roadside Attractions,  used with permission.

1. It Features the Skit Guys

If you grew up in an evangelical church, you have likely seen the work of the  Skit Guys , a comedy duo featuring two life-long friends, Tommy Woodard and Eddie James. They perform at conferences, churches and camps. They also produce short (but excellent) videos for use in churches – some inspirational, some humorous. (Most of the videos don't even show the duo on camera.)

The duo's career began by performing skits for their youth group. They were so impressive that other churches invited them to perform.

In the film, Woodard plays Tommy Ackerman, and James plays Eddie Sanders.

2. It's a Rare Breed: a Faith-Based Comedy

Faith-based dramas have been prevalent for the past two decades ( I Can Only Imagine  and  War Room , among them). Faith-based documentaries are, too ( The Jesus Music is one of the bests ever).

But faith-based comedies? They're nearly as rare as faith-based musicals (2021's A Week Away leads that tiny bunch).

Moms' Night Out  (2014) was the first quality faith-based comedy of the modern era. There have been a few good other ones, including The Resurrection of Gavin Stone (2017), Selfie Dad (2020) and Switched (2020).

Family Camp belongs on this small list of best faith-based comedies.

Much of the humor involves situational comedy, playing off the awkward arrangement of the two families forced to camp together in a yurt. (A curtain is placed down the middle of the yurt for privacy.) Eddie is outgoing but socially awkward. Tommy is straight-laced and businesslike. The wives are opposites. The kids are, too.

Slapstick comedy is prominent. The arrangement gets off to a bad start when Eddie, a chiropractor, immediately gives Tommy an unwelcome back massage. From there, Eddie: 1) saves Tommy from choking on a piece of meat, 2) gets the two men lost in the woods, 3) nearly drowns his friend in frustration – although Eddie started the "fight," and 4) gets the two men kidnapped by a pair of redneck hunters. (A beaver – yes, a beaver – saves him.) Somewhere in there, they also get into a squabble over a harmonica.

The comedy stays clean. My 10-year-old son laughed and laughed while watching it. I did, too.

Photo courtesy: ©Roadside Attractions, used with permission.

3. It Delivers Solid Lessons

Family Camp  is a movie with a solid message – several of them, actually.

It displays unconditional love between moms and dads, parents and children, while reminding us that no family is perfect. (We see the Ackermans and the Sanders bicker several times, yet they always make up.)

It urges Christians to practice what they preach not only in public but at home when no one else is looking. (Eddie, as we learn, isn't a cheerful person when he's only around his wife and kids.)

Family Camp has several other good lessons. It promotes forgiveness and reconciliation. It endorses purity in dating relationships (Tommy's daughter pushes a boy into a stream when he tries to kiss her.) It even shows us the dangers of making your family an idol.

4. It's for the Whole Family

Family Camp is rated PG for "action and thematic elements," but – honestly – it could be rated G. It contains no coarse language. It contains no sexuality. The violence remains in the super-silly Three Stooges realm.

"We are committed to making faith-based comedies that you don't have to worry about what's being said or done," James said.

With Family Camp , he added, "there's no bait and switch."

The film has a lot of big companies and well-known names behind it. Like Roadside Attractions ( Manchester by the Sea ). And Provident Films ( Blue Miracle, War Room ). And K-LOVE Films ( The Jesus Music, The Case for Heaven ). It also stars Leigh-Allyn Baker ( Will & Grace ) and Robert Amaya ( Courageous, Moms' Night Out ). Rhett Walker even performs.

Family Camp is a movie you can watch with your whole family. Not many live-action comedies can say that.

Visit  FamilyCampMovie.com

Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Family-friendly rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

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Family camp.

Directed by Brian Cates

When workaholic Tommy's wife insists that he spend more time with his family, he agrees to sign up for Family Camp. What Tommy didn't count on was being forced to share a yurt at camp with the larger-than-life Sanders family.

Leigh-Allyn Baker Tommy Woodard Eddie James Gigi Orsillo Jacob Wade Elias Kemuel Cece Kelly Keslee Blalock Mark Christopher Lawrence Robert Amaya Heather Land Myke Holmes Weston Vrooman Clayton Royal Johnson

Director Director

Brian Cates

Producers Producers

Jay Howver Darren Moorman Trey Reynolds Justin Tolley

Writers Writers

Rene Gutteridge Brian Cates

Editor Editor

Cinematography cinematography, stunts stunts, composer composer.

Nicholas Poss

Provident Films Reserve Entertainment Skit Guys Studios

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

English Portuguese

Releases by Date

13 may 2022, 29 dec 2022, 13 feb 2023, 14 feb 2023, releases by country.

• Digital L VOD
• Theatrical 7
• Digital TP VOD
• Theatrical AP
• Theatrical PG

111 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Late Movie Reviews ½

Christian entertainment may just be the worst kind of entertainment. That includes ISIS execution videos.

Review by megjrog19 ★★★★★ 4

family camp is the movie of the year, maybe even the best movie of all time?? after reading the synopsis i’ve been breaking all of my limbs till the skit guys reply to my email asking if i can have 50+ copies on dvd. i paid for the poster for over 400 dollars on ebay and i’ve been waiting by my mailbox for the last 3 days. no food, no water just waiting for the nice ups man to bring me my prized possession. you need to RUN to your theater to watch this amazing, perfectly made movie. i don’t think i’ll ever watch another movie again, it will never beat this masterpiece.

Review by gr1ff09 ★

"I didn't peg this place for being evolutionist."

"Hey, are you crazy? You can't mention the 'e' word at a Christian camp. Do you know what could happen to you?"

"Probably a bunch of monkey business."

har har har har har har so funny hahahahaha guys this movie was genuinely so funny I cannot believe that this is not on pureflix yet like wtf this is so amazing the performances and incredible screenplay are all worthy of Oscar nominations. Decision to Leave and Broker have no chance of winning anything at this point because we already know FAMILY CAMP SWEEP LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Review by colin... @ your mom's crib ½

WE SHOW UP WE LOVE BIG WE PRAY HARD WE FORGIVE WE SHOW UP WE LOVE BIG WE PRAY HARD WE FORGIVE WE SHOW UP WE LOVE BIG WE PRAY HARD WE FORGIVE WE SHOW UP WE LOVE BIG WE PRAY HARD WE FORGIVE WE SHOW UP WE LOVE BIG WE PRAY HARD WE FORGIVE WE SHOW UP WE LOVE BIG WE PRAY HARD WE FORGIVE WE KILL THEM WE KILL YOU WE KILL US YOU'LL KILL TOO WE FEAST FLESH WE FUCK HARD WE MAKE BLOOD WE DIE WE DIE WE DIE WE DIE WE DIIIEEEEEEEEEEE

Review by Pate Duncan ½ 3

Atheists have made better religious films. Deeply unpleasant and highly ideologically suspect.

Review by nat ½

“we should all go to the movies” - a family member before picking the worst movie you’ve ever seen

Review by Joel Hilke ★ 4

I did not laugh - at all - at this movie... there might have been two spots where I could have mildly amused (charitably), but it didn't touch my face - not even the touch of a smile or smirk - and I certainly didn't laugh. This was just an aggressively unfunny film that went from about an hour and fifty tedious minutes.

It's basically just a film about a family that attends a "family" camp - or a bible camp since it's a church camp. The husband doesn't want to be there, they wind up in a shared yurt with an unlikeable but very religious family. Camp hijinks ensue.

This is a PG rated film that's got a religious…

Review by Ethan ½ 2

And He takes and He takes and He takes

Review by 🏳️‍⚧️💕Belle Forger💕🏳️‍⚧️ ★ 3

Before watching this I had a 10 year old slap my ass while I was trying to get my drink. So rude but at least the parent apologized to me for his behavior. People train your Jesus loving kids to not slap girl asses. 

But ignore the rating, this was peak cinema. The family found god through a hard journey and what’s more important is they found out bounding together as a family is what most important. You know your in for peak cinema when it’s about finding your faith and how to make things better. 

To be honest this is Christian propaganda to have families sign up for Christian family camps and to show how this camp renews families…

Review by viola ½

i have never wanted to kill myself more in my whole life and i have major depressive disorder

Review by Jerome1994 ½

Family Camp is one of those movies where it released and nobody talked about it at all, it’s like it didn’t exist and I can easily see why. I’ll give it this…it’s not the God’s Not Dead type of Christian movie, but that’s honestly not saying much when you look at the quality of the movie. The best thing about this mess is Leigh-Allyn Baker who gives a fine enough performance but isn’t enough to make the viewer look past everything else, the writing is truly awful there isn’t one moment here that feels sincere or meaningful. A lot of it is if you took every bad cliche from the early 2000s family movie era, mixed it all together and…

Review by Cole Turner ½

So bad I thought it was a spinoff to Fred 3: Camp Fred.

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Family Camp

When two polar-opposite families are forced to camp together, the dads struggle to hold onto their families and marriages as they compete for the coveted camp trophy.

Dove Review

In this new Skit Guys film, Grace Ackerman (Leigh-Allyn Baker), quirky but stubborn wife and mother, is certain that by immersing their family in a summer, church camp, her husband Tommy Ackerman (Tommy Woodard), will finally be forced to spend quality time with her and the kids, teenager (Cece Kelly) and boy (Jacob Wade). Typical little brother/teen sister fights are humorously familiar as the family drives to the place Tommy was absolutely sure he would never go- Church Family Camp!

Upon arrival, the camp director (Robert Amaya) happily advises the Ackermans they will be sharing a yurt (a circular domed tent used by pastoral people groups in inner Asia) with another family, (who could be described as melodramatically absurd). Too soon, the Ackermans meet the Sanders. Eddie Sanders (Eddie James), father and chiropractor, in a fit of happy histrionics, snatches Tommy and Grace for an extremely funny, spine-popping adjustment. The Ackermans quickly find Eddie’s lack of humility is superseded only by his theatrical ability to annoy. Eddie’s wife, Victoria Sanders (Gigi Orsillo), maintains the weird energy on her end as their young twins (Elias Kemuel) and (Keslee Blalock) keep a safe distance from the parent group.

The prophetic writing on the wall comes dreadfully for Tommy when Eddie and family joyfully sing How Great Thou Art to, “offer up a humble hymn of praise and to consecrate their yurt as Holy Ground”. This is humorous, and although it may give off warnings that Family Camp makes fun of hyper-Christians (kind of like Homer Simpson’s neighbors). we should be quick to realize there’s a strength in the ability to laugh at oneself, as do the Skit Guys. Some viewers will recognize the Ackermans’ characters, who tend to look like the preoccupied, under-committed Christian, periodically attending church, but unsure of the words to How Great Thou Art . You know, “How-great-thou-art …”

The film perpetuates itself by rolling through one pie eating, paddle boating competition after another, each pushing Tommy closer to an all-out-camper-war with Eddie, whose sense of putting others first, bounced far, far away in a blue Bubble Ball. Sub-stories are woven in, one being the chewing presence of an odd little beaver (created by David Acuff), reminiscent of the dancing gofer in the movie Caddy Shack. Other interactions center around the issue of maintaining rewarding family time; Pastor Dave (Mark Lawrence) makes time to counsel Tommy on leading his family.

Another situation involves a men’s deep-woods hiking trip. When Eddie and Tommy get lost together (you know they’re going to), all focus turns to finding them. Everything we might expect happens when Eddie grabs a bee hive and puffs up like a porcupine, when their clothes are burned by the campfire, and when they are captured by two backwoods, nutty survival guys (Myke Holmes and Weston Vrooman). All in all, a bad day.

Meanwhile back at camp, Grace confides in Victoria her need for Tommy to give their family priority over his job, prompting Victoria to divulge her marriage problems, then offering to pray with Grace. “I’d like to pray in my prayer language,” she tells Grace, who stammers, “You mean in … tongues.”

“No,” says Victoria, “in Spanish.”

Family Camp is the product of clever writing, acting outside the box and just plain ol’ hav’n fun. The back woods craziness is a little long and takes on an extended life of its own. No worries; Skit Guys fans will love that. Cinematography and directing, along with the score and set, create an awesome camp experience. There are no objectionable elements, past the rating of 1, in this clean and funny family film. We do learn about consideration for others, the importance of family and honesty, and confessing and confronting weaknesses. Dove awards Family Camp the All Ages Seal of Approval.

The Dove Take

The popular, comedic, Christian team known as The Skit Guys, brings us Family Camp, a well-produced, well-written and acted film produced to entertain both secular and Christian audiences, one hearty laugh after another.

Dove Rating Details

Christian jargon, devoted prayer, but no noticeable true sharing of the Gospel

Main characters have different levels of integrity, some just wanting the best for their family, while others want best for themselves.

Situational things like the nutty guy shooting a drugged arrow, and a campfire out of control

More Information

Film information, dove content.

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FAMILY CAMP

"finding god at camp".

What You Need To Know:

Miscellaneous Immorality: Light miscellaneous lying, cheating, bragging, false friendships.

More Detail:

FAMILY CAMP is a funny, heartwarming movie about two dysfunctional families that learn how to love one another at a Christian summer camp. The movie has some very positive Christian messages, no foul language, no sex, and lightweight slapstick violence.

The movie opens with Tommy Ackerman on the phone closing a big deal and coming in late to church with only two minutes of the sermon left. The pastor is talking about Jesus and the need to love one another.

After his sermon, the pastor announces that the church is signing up people for the family camp. Tommy’s wife, Grace, wants to go because the family is falling apart. In a very funny scene, Tommy expresses each one of his concerns, and, as if reading his mind, the pastor answers each one of them. For instance, Tommy says the camp must have air conditioning, the pastor says each camp unit has air conditioning. Tommy relents and says he’s going to sign up for the camp.

However, when the family gets to Family Camp, Grace learns that Tommy forgot to make the sign up. However, the head of the camp, Joel, has a solution. He’s going to put the Ackerman family in a round Mongolian hut with Eddie Sanders and his family. Eddie and his family appear to be the perfect Christian family. They sing together, he plays the harmonica, they say prayers, he disciples their children, and he’s won the camp contest for two years in a row. In other words, Eddie and his family are really obnoxious, and totally opposite Tommy and his family.

Tommy’s daughter doesn’t want to be there. A very attractive teenager, she wants to be out dating boys. Tommy’s son is a nerd and likes being a nerd. He doesn’t want to play the camp games. He wants to look at nature and get out his slide rule and measuring tape. He’s a scientist in the making.

After one day of really challenging camp games, such as soccer while you’re in a big plastic ball, and other games that involve some degree of physical combat, they announce they’re going to have a hike of the fathers and husbands into the natural wilderness. Tommy protests that he thought this was a time to come together and be with family. His wife reminds him he spent a lot of time during this time on his phone with his clients and with a man who’s trying to steal his clients. As always, Tommy relents and goes on the hike and is paired with obnoxious Eddie.

Tommy gets Eddie into trouble with a beehive. Eddie is allergic to bees, but he’s brought an adrenaline shot, which he asks Tommy to jab into his thigh. In the midst of dealing with the bees, the other men leave them far behind.

Now, lost in the woods on the wrong path, Tommy and Eddie are trying desperately to survive. When everything looks worse, they run into two Reality TV stars whose reality program was trying to find Bigfoot in Arkansas. They try to borrow the stars’ motorized vehicles, but the stars catch them, tie them up around a tree and pour honey on the ropes to leave them to the wild creatures of the forest at night.

Meanwhile, back at the camp, everyone panics. They send the park police to find Eddie and Tommy. Even Tommy’s young son goes off by himself to find his father. Will they find Tommy and Eddie? Will the truth come out about Eddie Sanders, who has a tremendous secret? Tommy’s only hope is to turn his life over to God at last.

FAMILY CAMP is a funny movie with many heartfelt moments. Some of the humor is over-the-top. However, just when it looks like the movie is getting too hokey, there are some excellent surprises and plot twists that keep viewers glued to the movie. In terms of foul language and sex, the movie is very clean. The violence is slapstick, however, and slightly mean spirited in a couple places, such as when Eddie practices his chiropractic skills on other people. FAMILY CAMP has a lot of good in it, however. For example, it teaches how to love your wife and how to love your husband, how children should be appreciated for who they are, the importance of faith, getting over pride, learning how to forgive, and much, much more. MOVIEGUIDE® commends the cast and crew of FAMILY CAMP for creating a joyful, heartwarming comedy for the whole family.

Family Camp

Reviewed by: David Cook CONTRIBUTOR

Check back later for review coming from contributor David Cook

Polar-opposite families forced to be together

Feeling that your family is falling apart

Solving family problems

Solving marriage problems

How to love your wife

How to love your husband

For a follower of Christ, what is LOVE —a feeling, an emotion, or an action?

What is a TRUE BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN ?

What does the Bible say about pride and HUMILITY ?

What is meekness ? and why is it a trait of the truly wise?

What is biblical WISDOM ?

What advice do you have for new or growing Christians? Answer

What is FAITH and why is it important? Answer

What is faithfulness ?

What is TRUTH? Answer

Learning how to forgive

What is SIN? Answer

Righteousness

“I ’m not junk. God doesn’t make junk,” one character explains in a touching moment of “Family Camp.”

The Skit Guys are a duo of content creators that have been entertaining Christian audiences and churchgoers since the infancy of YouTube. Their brand of goofy-yet-sweet sketches are a perfect blend of entertainment and poignancy. With “Family Camp,” they take that formula and make the leap to the big screen with their first feature film.

Tommy (Tommy Woodard—“The Skit Guys”) is a successful businessman, but his wife Grace (Leigh-Allyn Baker—“Will and Grace,” “Good-Luck Charlie”) yearns for more. She desperately wants him to spend some quality time with her and the kids. How can that happen?

Family church camp, of course.

Upon arrival at Camp Katokwah, they are forced to share a cabin (actually a yurt) with a seemingly perfect family led by patriarch Eddie (Eddie James—“The Skit Guys”). Now, Tommy’s family feels that they must put on their “perfect” façade as they participate in various camp activities and competitions. However, these disguises can’t last forever, and the true identities of these families will eventually be revealed.

It’s amazing to me that a goofy, cheesy, family movie can be profound; but “Family Camp” does it. The film starts at a breakneck pace with Disney-Channel-style rapid dialog and punchlines. The editing is quick, the jokes are nutty, and the premise is simple. It’s reminiscent of 80’s comedies like “Caddyshack” and “Vacation.” Even with its familiar tropes, the jokes are subverted with fresh, comedic takes. As the story develops, that speedy pace subtly slows down and restrains itself to take time to focus on each character and the challenges they must face. These Christians aren’t perfect. They are far from it. Their struggles are our struggles. Their hopes are our hopes.

“I’ve been forgiven a lot, so I need to be able to forgive,” one character realizes. This thought comes directly from Ephesians 4:32:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

In God’s sight, it is totally unacceptable for a Christian to refuse to forgive others. Remember the parable of the master who forgave a guilty man who owed him an amount so enormous that he could never hope to pay it back? The master completely forgave him. But, afterward, that forgiven man roughly grabbed another who owed him a very small amount, and allowed him no time to repay—showed him no mercy—and threw him into prison. When the master heard of this, he was FURIOUS and his punishment was swift.

In that parable , the Master represents God. And the forgiven man represents you—if you have similarly FAILED to forgive another, when Christ’s blood has paid your unpayable debt to God, and He has forgiven you for everything you have ever done wrong —and for your continuing failures to do everything that is truly right and good .

Therefore, we have a responsibility to be humble , forgiving, loving servants of God.

“In a word, live together in the forgiveness of your sins , for without it no human fellowship…can survive. Don’t insist on your rights, don’t blame each other, don’t judge or condemn each other, don’t find fault with each other, but accept each other as you are, and forgive each other every day from the bottom of your hearts…” —Dr. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison

The Skit Guys know their audience, and they are specifically appealing to their Christian fans with “Family Camp.” They poke fun at various parts of Christian culture, but they also tackle serious issues within the Christian community— marital struggles, recognition of personal sin , current-day idolatry , and failing to trust in God and His Plan for our lives.

Whether you are a Christian or not, the values of this film are universal. When it removes the false veil that some Christians wear on Sunday mornings, vulnerability takes center stage. It honestly shows how screwed up some of us Christians are and how desperately they are trying to get through the day. Sometimes Christians feel like junk, but again, “God doesn’t make junk,” and I’m thankful this movie reminds us of that truth.

• Violence: Mild (slapstick)
• Vulgar/Crude language: Minor
• Profane language: None
• Nudity: None
• Drugs/Alcohol: None
• Occult: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

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Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

Family camp.

Hilarious faith-based comedy is aimed squarely at parents.

More Comedy