Film

We’ve got nothing against family entertainment; it’s great to have movies you can enjoy with your eight-year-old. And while we aren’t fans of 2003’s Daddy Day Care, we can understand its appeal to some audiences. So, to all devotees of that film, let us issue an urgent, heartfelt warning: Daddy Day Camp is no Daddy Day Care. Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin, the stars of the first film, wisely took a pass on this poorly scripted, badly acted, awkwardly directed and painfully unfunny sequel.

In Camp, Gooding Jr. takes Murphy’s place as Charlie Hinton, co-owner of a now-successful day-care facility. Rae fills in for Garlin as Phil, Charlie’s business partner and comic sidekick. They buy a summer camp and take charge of providing outdoor fun for a stock company of adorable moppets. Charlie also reconciles with his military dad (Gant) and faces his childhood enemy (Munro), who now runs a rival camp.

Gooding Jr. barely makes an effort, and Rae seems perfectly content with the sad label of “the poor man’s Jeff Garlin.” Alas, their lackluster contribution is outdone by Savage’s inept direction. This is worse than talent-show night at Camp Lake Winnepasockee.