DVD Release Date:  January 29, 2008
Theatrical Release Date:  August 8, 2007
Rating:  PG-13 (for mild bodily humor and language)
Genre:  Family/Comedy
Run Time:  95 min.
Director:  Fred Savage
Actors:  Cuba Gooding, Jr., Paul Rae, Richard Gant, Lochlyn Munro, Spencir Bridges, Tamala Jones

Not quite on the heels of the 2003 family comedy Daddy Day Care comes this belated sequel, with all sorts of changes.  Cuba Gooding Jr. has taken on the role of Charlie Hinton (previously played by Eddie Murphy).  His seriously overweight buddy, Phil Ryerson, is now played by the seriously overweight Paul Rae (previously played by the seriously overweight Jeff Garlin, of Curb Your Enthusiasm).  Even Charlie’s wife (Regina King) has been replaced by Tamala Jones (Next Friday).

This time around, the oh-so-experienced day care providers purchase the run-down summer camp Charlie attended as a kid.  Charlie sees it as a great way to spend time with his son Ben (Spencir Bridges), who has more admiration for grandpa than dad.  Unfortunately, the camp is in serious disrepair and very indebted.  Worse, Charlie’s childhood nemesis, Lance Warner (Lochlyn Munro) has bought the neighboring camp and is angling to buy Camp Woodchuck as well.

Lance and his bratty campers start raiding Camp Woodchuck, egging Charlie to accept their challenge to compete in the annual Olympiad.  But Charlie and Phil have bigger problems—like controlling their pitifully few campers.  Enter Charlie’s father, Colonel Buck Hinton (Richard Gant), who according to Charlie, specializes in “anger, shame and criticism.”  He doesn’t want his father’s help, but faced with repossession of his family home, Charlie doesn’t have much choice.  Fortunately, the Marine stops the raids and whips those kids into shape.  But will it destroy what’s left of his relationship with Charlie?

Sequels are rarely as good as originals.  But, having lost the entire cast, director and most of the screenwriters from the first film, Daddy Day Camp had mega odds stacked against it.  Unfortunately, despite positive role models and a few good messages, it does not rise to the challenge.

The plot is predictable, silly and without any credibility.  Worse, it’s loaded with the two Hollywood “requirements” for kid films:  body humor and bratty children.  This time around, the potty humor has stooped to new depths.  We’re treated to vomiting, flatulence, urination, urine-filled “water” balloons, and a campfire burping contest (between adults and kids).  In one scene, Charlie examines the aftermath of a vomiting incident and chunks actually fall on his face.  As if that’s not enough, we must also endure jokes about (and shots of) a backed-up latrine.  Particularly disgusting is the scene in which Phil sits down to relieve himself while wearing a gas mask, only to have the entire outhouse explode.  He comes out covered in feces.