Christian Comedy ‘Bad Counselors’ Spoofs Church Camp With Heartfelt Twist
Kids who grew up concluding their annual pilgrimage to church camp with Lifehouse and the “Everything Skit” (IYKYK) will appreciate new Christian comedy “Bad Counselors.” The indie flick directed by Chris Dowling (“Run The Race,” “Priceless”) is slated to exclusively hit theaters July 22-27, 2026.
After a night of drunken hijinks goes off the rails, two fraternity brothers, Grayson and Tyler — played by Matt Cornett (“Every Year After”) and Raymon Reed (“Incoming”), respectively — get slapped with community service and soon find themselves posing as counselors at Camp Burning Bush.
Caught in a web of lies, the delinquent friends are paired with young campers to mentor throughout the week; and they’re immediately faced with more than they bargained for as they enter the tech-free zone of summer’s evangelical rite of passage. Between rounds of flag tag, water sports, bonfire worship and craft sessions, the boys are introduced to pretty female counselors under the watchful eye of Pastor Tom, played by “Sweet Magnolias” star Chris Klein, testing how far they’re willing to go to keep their secrets buried.
While Grayson and Tyler come to camp expecting to knock out their community service hours in one fell swoop, what they don’t anticipate finding is acceptance, belonging and understanding among a circle of quirky counselors and campers alike who are all dealing with universal insecurities.
From the hipster vibe of the megachurch the frat brothers accidentally stumble into, thinking they’re entering a nightclub, to the kitschy tone of the rustic camp, “Bad Counselors” gets the setting right. Longtime church kids will be able to vouch for the accurate portrayals of skinny-jean-wearing worship leaders and high-top-sporting pastors. They’ll immediately recognize Cory Asbury when he makes a one-song cameo during a pivotal worship scene; and they’ll definitely recall fond memories from their own summers away from home. After all, for most, church camp is a meaningful part of youth.
Moviegoers might slightly cringe, however, when they swiftly realize “Bad Counselors” takes aim — all in good fun — at the trite rituals of church culture. The film feels like an episode of the Christian version of “SNL.” But the fact that it’s a Christian parody is precisely the reason its comedy hits.
Those removed from evangelical circles won’t fully understand the jokes. In fact, if you didn’t grow up in a postmodern church, you might be baffled by the turn of events. Kids who have fond memories of boarding the church bus with their sleeping bag under one arm and their W.W.J.D. bracelet on the other, however, will find “Bad Counselors” to be an amusing and, at times, relatable 95 minutes filled with a cast of colorful characters and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
Filmed on location in North Carolina, the movie hits a little too close to home as it shows what happens when you reap consequences for your actions — an all-too real scenario for many college students. While Grayson and Tyler’s choices might ring true, the grace they discover is just as tangible.
Since over-the-top satire is what drives the plot forward, viewers won’t see the heartfelt conclusion coming. As funny as “Bad Counselors” might be, at its core, the film is equally about friendship and second chances.
Both boys fall for girls (Brec Bassinger, McKaley Miller), who aren’t their “type,” yet they learn enduring relationships are actually built on honesty and vulnerability. Additionally, both Grayson and Tyler befriend their young protégés, with whom they forge a sweet bond as they recognize their younger, innocent selves in two little boys who, largely, feel overlooked and misunderstood.
Every church kid will be able to find themselves in the story, from the rowdy frat boys and their nosy arch-nemesis (Nathan Gamble) to the preacher’s daughter and the shy, eclectic crew of campers. An atypical faith-based movie, “Bad Counselors” pokes fun at Christian clichés that have defined many an evangelical childhood well into their teen years. Yet, for those willing to read between the wisecracks, the movie tells a deeper story of redemption, team work and community.
Parents should know “Bad Counselors” is rated PG-13 for scenes depicting heavy drinking and partying and slightly irreverent humor.
