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BY TOM MEEK
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In his directing debut, Todd Graff explores the dynamics of sex and success at a summer camp for aspiring dancers, singers, and actors. Much of what goes on at Camp Ovation may seem derivative of Fame, but Graff, who has been primarily an actor (albeit in small roles in films like The Abyss and Death to Smoochy), did attend such a camp in upstate New York — Robert Downey Jr. and Natalie Portman are fellow alums. Ovation’s epicenter is golden boy Vlad (Daniel Letterle), who compassionately listens to the sufferings of his dress-wearing gay Latino bunkmate (Robin de Jesus), gets seduced by the camp babe (Alana Allen), and crunches numbers in his head quicker than a Dell, all the while maintaining an odd, near-romantic relationship with mopy wallflower Ellen (Joanna Chilcoat). With a lower-than-low budget and first-time actors, Graff makes an impressive showing. The musical numbers (mostly by Stephen Sondheim, who has a cameo) are so vibrant and well-choreographed, you’d think the team from Chicago had lent a hand (and money); it’s only the key, cathartic moments that lack fluidity and feeling. The big winner is Anna Kendrick, whose spurned wanna-be pulls an All About Eve coup with glorious aplomb. (114 minutes)
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