The fourth in the
‘American Pie’ franchise hits the stores and one might wonder where all the regulars are, being drawn under a false pretext with Jim’s Dad, Eugene Levy, on the front cover, but no, this is the new generation.
Stiffler junior rules the roost here and he is like his brother in more ways than one. Matt (Tad Hilgenbrinck) actually dotes on his brother’s notoriety much to the displeasure of everyone else around him. Drastic actions mean drastic measures. So school councillor, Chuck the ‘Sherman-ator’ (Chris Owen), is called into quick action. The rude, crude, wild, Stiffy junior is off to band camp to make amends or the jock will not see another football game. And perhaps he will take some handy spy-cams with him… just for some bandie fun.
Add in lots of crude humour, hints at nudity, and a few musical instruments in places that they should not be blown from and that about sums up what is in store for the Pie fan viewer.
There was this one time, at band camp…
The movie is actually funny in many places, one can’t help get the giggles at the odd vomit scene or when band instruments are dowsed with pepper spray, I guess this appeals to the bad kid in all of us. The big difference here, apart from the lack of any of the creative team behind the previous outings, is that there is no straight guy for Stiffler to play off against. In the hugely amusing pervious parts, it was Jim’s story, and we laughed and sympathised at his misfortunes that befell him, with the comic relief coming in from the one and only Stiffmeiseter. Here the two characters have been welded together and to mixed results. Some credit must be given to new-comer Hilgenbrinck for putting on a carbon copy performance that Seann William Scott made so much his own as big brother Steve, but it feels just that – a copy. So with no Jim around, we just have the bandies to feel sorry for. And then it gets so very trite when we see there really is a nice guy in Matt, the geeks are actually closet cool, and that love will win the day. Mr. Levenstein (Levy) as camp MACRO can’t even save the flick; his role seems to be only to act as a surrogate dad to the frantic testosterone fuelled fish out of water in the land of the bandies.
For those discerning parents, this is one movie that its bark is much worse than its bite. It promises a smorgasbord of naked beauties and we get to see Matt’s backside more than anything else, nudity and sex are very limited and for the most only hinted or implied… the language on the other hand is a full frontal assault and the reason for its 15 certificate.
The DVD has a few goodies in store. We have around 15 minutes of deleted scenes and outtakes, which prove amusing enough and would have given a more rounded story and deeper characterisations if included. 'Band Camp Dirty Diary' is the best of the batch; the cast take around their own camcorders and play around off set, with more of Hilgenbrinck’s ass on show. As for the remainder, 'Band Camp's Dirty Secrets (Set Tour)’, 'Secret RoverCam Footage' and 'Baby Got Back Music Video' , again gives more of a tease rather than showing off the goods…. perhaps that last phrase sums up this release in general.
'American Pie Presents Band Camp’ is available to buy on its own via AmazonUK, or as part of the
‘American Pie 4 Play Boxed Set’ . As of yet no US release date has been given.
You can read more about the DVD in our
database .
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