Expected more

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I watched Indian Summer on DVD a few weeks back and found myself drawn into it. I spent six or seven summers at a summer camp outside of Brainerd, Minnesota called Camp Jim. Watching Indian Summer took me back to those long ago (1975-1980?) days of conducting "raids" on other cabins, that first kiss at the campfire, waterfront Olympics, the smell of the woods on a rainy morning, etc. The characters in the movie find themselves back at the camp they attended 20 years previously with an old score to settle, a marriage in trouble, a controlling relationship, and a still grieving widow.Like many reviewers have said, unless you attended summer camp, you probably won't "get" this movie. If you have, you might find yourself relieving your youth and find yourself pining for those days when watching it.

The plot and character development are weak here, but there are enough enjoyable aspects to keep you viewing. The scenery is amazing, the concept of returning to your childhood camp is appealing, and the cast is familiar and good looking. Alan Arkin's role does not appear to be super challenging, but it requires skillful subtlety and he does it well.Where are these people from, that they would go to camp in Ontario? The other references are American. But Kimberly Williams is wearing a jacket with Canadian flags. No one seems to mention living in Buffalo or Michigan.What the heck do they actually do for a living? The Paxton character says what he does, but I don't think the others specify. Diane Lane is technically too young, but I guess you are not supposed to know that. Are we to assume that the Camp owner played by Alan Arkin has been single and alone for 43 years? We know so very little about him.Does someone have to stay at the camp in the off season? Why? Does the camp bring in enough revenue to support a couple year round?The human dramas are clichéd and lack imagination. But the acting is good all around. I'm sure they had fun filming this one and it shows. There's a really forced plot device involving a black guy. It doesn't make any sense. Why would the guy want to work there in 1972?Like other reviewers have said...if you went to camp, you will probably relate to the whole experience better than someone who has never been at camp. I envy the characters their past. They were so alive in their summers as kids.

Let me say right off the bat, that if you never went to a summer camp, and I mean a real summer camp not just a YMCA day camp or some lame excuse like that, but a real couple of weeks out in the wilderness camp, you will not enjoy this movie half as much as you could have. People that don't like this movie are people that either never went or really appreciated the wonder of summer camp. Being a long time former camper/staff member of a camp I identified countless times with the nostalgic aspect of this film. This cast is top notch but I have to give kudos to Alan Arkin as the old and wise camp director "Uncle Lou" who dedicated over 40 years of his life to the running of this camp. When he waxes nostalgia over his experiences I cant help but get a cozy and warm feeling. His goal in the movie is to invite his long time favorite campers, now middle aged adults, up for one last visit. He is trying to see if any of them will take over the camp. I wont say to whom but he has the best sales pitch line, "The camp is not worth any money, but if you hit it right, its one hell of a life." Sheer poetry. This is not a perfect movie and some scenes are a little overly preachy and pious. Like the whole reason behind why the one former camper hid Uncle Lou's boxing trophy all those years ago and now is going to return it to him. Also the whole marriage in crisis and lover spats add to up to very little. Aside from that the best part of the movie is just the reminiscing and rediscovering of camp life. Give this movie a shot. Its worth it!

This ensemble piece about adults who return to the formulative Summer camp of their youth was a very quiet entrant and exiter to the cinemas in the Autumn of 1993. I'd say that was a shame,but then again,some of the better movies ARE quiet releases that don't get much hype or praise.Diane LAne,Kevin Pollack,Elizabeth Perkins,Vincent Spano,Julie Warner,Bill Paxton,Kimberly Williams,Matt Craven and Alan Arkin(who is painfully good here) are the group of actors who flesh out these roles as people who have grown old with good,bad and funny memories of summers gone past. This film covers the gambit of emotions,mostly pleasant,and the film never hammers away at the viewer to feel what the characters are feeling,preferring to allow the viewer to enter into the memories on their own. Since I am a movie viewer who bristles at bluntly,brazen manipulation in films,this is something that I appreciate from writer/director Mike Binder.This film's a great cheap rent,a good main rent and even a pretty sit in a theater flick. You might run across this on TV,and I would definitely suggest a look-see.