Not alot of films can really nail the specific look of the 80s, but this movie was spot-on with the early 80s fashion and makeup and hairstyles. Joe Lo Truglia really looked like someone you'd see in one of those summer camp movies, and Showalter too.
I don't know how to explain it, but the people just really fit the time period. They look like 80s people, so it works.
Who else agrees?
***For your information, everyone knows monsters prefer blondes.***
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I'd say it's more late 70s, but yeah, they really did nail the late 70s/early 80s look.
shareDonnie Darko is late '88. And I believe WHAS is like '81, or around there, but yes I agree they did a great job. The colors, from clothing to make-up are very accurate, and the excessive gum chewing
shareDefinitely late 70's. Look at all the long straight hair even on a lot of the guys. The shorts and tube socks are correct though. But where are the hideous Madonna Bouffants?
https://i2.wp.com/images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/26300000/Elizabeth-in-Wet-Hot-American-Summer-elizabeth-banks-26328381-853-480.jpg
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The movie is set in 1981. Madonna wasn't signed to a record label until '82, and her debut album was in '83..... Her hair was short and black when this movie took place.
http://40.media.tumblr.com/48de4529e76b8cfd24180ac2fbe28c1c/tumblr_nm9qb436tq1rldhmro5_400.jpg
i kept thinking the date released was a typo - still can't believe the movie came out in 2001!
My teenage ansgt has a body count
"i kept thinking the date released was a typo - still can't believe the movie came out in 2001! "
My thoughts exactly. I kept getting confused cuz a lot of the actors look like they do now, but the film feels way older.
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> Not alot of films can really nail the specific look of the 80s, but this movie was spot-on
I didn't look at the release date until after I saw the movie and I too was shocked to see that it was released in 2001.
During the movie I kept thinking that those actors really aged well in the 28 years since it was filmed.
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What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?
As someone who sort of remembers the early to mid 80's there were little things that I got and the detail was amazing, there is a scene where Coop is on the phone with his mother, behind him was a poster of "Woodsy", I had not seen one of those posts since i was in grade school. And the Ruth Buzzy remarks, i remembered her from reruns of LAUGH INN. Great small details,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xETgGym8cnE
I've wondered if they were able to get the vintage clothing, or was it made by the costume department. I suppose there may be vintage 80s clothing around, the half-jerseys, short-shorts, etc., but there may be copyright issues. I'm not sure how it all works. Notice that there are a lot of Thanks to's, some to clothing companies--maybe they get permission in exchange for that credits mention.
Well, I didn't see any vintage clothing companies in the Thanks-to. But, according to the article below, the costume person, Jill Kliber got most of the period clothing from local thrift shops.http://www.avclub.com/article/joe-lo-truglio-ken-marino-and-david-wain -61431
So I guess Jill Kliber is the unsung hero of Wet Hot American Summer.
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The story is king.
I really love the opening scene with the councilors partying around the campfire. I love this film! I would have edited out the Molly Shannon scenes and one or two others, but otherwise its perfect. I loved Ken Marino and the Jew fro.
I'm a civilian, I'm not a trout
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its not hard to set a film/show in a different time period people. We have seen it time n time again. How about the wonder years? Set in the 60's and early 70's. Created in the 80s.
Or the show Mad Med? Set in the 50's and 60's..created In present day.
Or Countless western Movies and shows..little house on the prairie? Created in the 70's set in the Later 1800s.
The AMC show Halt And Catch Fire. This show does an incredible job of capturing the 80s. Created last year...
Dazed and Confused..Movie about the 70's..made in the 90s
I can go on and on. Maybe i watch to much tv/film but I don't know..The 80s feel of WHAS didnt surprise me in anyway.
Oh How about Freaks n Geeks???
You have some great examples here, but I think they were just referring to how well it was done, not that they did it.
F&G, Dazed and Confused and Wonder Years do it flawlessly as well. As for Halt and Catch Fire and Mad Men, they do a great job at being accurate and looking great, but I can tell that they are specifically stylized to fit a certain aesthetic as well.
I think those other movies and shows had bigger budgets, and may not have been as far removed from their target eras. Getting the 1980s clothes in 2000, in thrift shops (as was the case), may have been still just doable, because I think it was right around the time that those styles were disappearing.
They did a commendable job on a low budget.
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The story is king.