Ten years later, the style and premise of The Big Chill (1983) is borrowed for this reunion comedy-drama that's surprisingly warm and effective, even as its subjects are clearly not advanced enough in years to be suffering from the pangs of nostalgic regret. The plot is expectedly predictable (old wounds are healed, secrets are revealed, new romance takes bloom, etc.), but writer/director Mike Binder handles the proceedings with a gentle good humor and grace that make even the most cliched moments entertaining. He's aided ably by some of his cast members, particularly the flinty Alan Arkin, note-perfect as an irascible camp commander. Bill Paxton is also a revelation, sinking his teeth into an edgy misanthrope role that's probably a welcome change of pace for the actor, accustomed as he is to portraying soldiers, cops, and other authority figures. Perhaps the film's funniest performance, however, comes from director Sam Raimi, who turns up in a rare acting role as the camp's hapless assistant and handyman Stick, the butt of his employer's passive-aggressive rage. It's all a bit too pat, neat, and lacking in real substance, but Indian Summer, while it never lets the audience forget it's watching something from the land of make-believe, is a light, fun enterprise.