American Pie IV: Brand Camp?

OK, so I'm never gonna make it as a movie critic. For a start, critics tend to review films as soon as possible after, or even before, their release. American Pie Presents Band Camp is a few months old and anyone who wants to will have seen it already. But come on, is it really my fault that I didn't get round to seeing it sooner? It's hardly a compelling prospect is it? A weary excercise in extending a brand for the sake of a bit more money, Band Camp features just two of the original American Pie cast. These are Chris Owen as The Sherminater and Eugene Levy, still 'Jim's Dad' in a movie with no Jim. Besides, I haven't even bothered with the third one yet!

Still my mate had a copy and i had a wet afternoon to fill so what the heck? With the noble intention of having a few chuckles and seeing a few naked breasts I put it on. The film concerns Stifler's younger brother Matt and his attempts to emulate his older brother, who now makes porn videos for a living. As a punishment for ruining a school show he is sent to bond with the 'Bandies' at Band Camp. Tad Hilgenbrink is well cast as Matt. He not only bears a resemblence to Seann William Scott but he knows how to gurn and leer with the best of them.

The first movie was sold on its gross-out moments, not to mention Shannon Elizabeth's breasts. This movie is low on explicite nudity but wont dissapoint the faithful with sperm gags, vomit and other cringeworthy moments. However, this installment reinvigorates the franchise for entirely different reasons. ...Band Camp has remembered that behind the sex and smut that first movie had a heart of gold. As an old girlfriend, charmingly played by Arielle Kebbel, teaches Matt the error of his ways we get a sweet natured depiction of teenage lust and confusion. There's a sub-plot involving a music school scholarship but it isn't important. This movie is about following the ensemble cast through their teenage fumblings and I for one found myself rooting for them all.


In the end after numerous plot twists the good guys win out, the bad guys get what's coming to them and everyone ends up with someone. Yes, it's a deeply cheesy message but it's one we all want to hear from time to time, however cynical we consider ourselves to be. Besides, the script is sharp and it's all performed with enough to pull it off.

So, to recap, American Pie Presents Band Camp: Good movie, not enough breasts.