American Pie: Band Camp DVD: Review By Mushy

When Matt Stifler (Tad Hilgenbrink) gets in trouble and is sent off to Band Camp as punishment, you don't think he is going to go gently into that good night, do you? Matt Stifler is the younger brother of Steve Stifler (Seann William Scott), and if you know anything about the American Pie movies, that means trying to get laid is a 24 hour job. Sometimes successful, oftentimes not, Matt Stifler decides he's going to bring a bunch of video equipment on his trip, and it is here that the main crux of the movie unfolds.

I wanted to hate this movie. I have never really seen what was so great or special about the American Pie films, perhaps it was because I have seen all three Porky's movies (the 2nd and 3rd ones IN the theater) and I just wasn't impressed? However, American Pie: Band Camp was pretty darn good. I found the movie, while not to be laugh out loud funny, reasonably engaging. I liked all the characters and the situations and I couldn't help but root for Matt Stifler's character to get with the program, get some good video footage or just get somewhere.

Outtakes and Deleted Scenes; Band Camp Dirty Diary and Poolside With Band Camp Girls

The Outtakes and Deleted Scenes were fairly standard and tame. The Outtakes have the actor's messing up their lines or an entire scene, but so much fun seems like it's being had, nobody really seems to mind that much. The Deleted Scenes appear as if they were cut more for time reasons than anything else. It seems like a lot more stuff was written and shot, but when it came time to edit this film they decided that some of the material was redundant. The Band Camp Dirty Diary is a actually a really interesting "making of" piece. The actors have been given cameras and basically told to record their experiences on the set. What's really cool is that Tad Hilgenbrink does a lot of "first person" confessionals into the camcorder, and as a viewer I really got the sense of excitement he had about the opportunity to play this role. Poolside With Band Camp Girls is a pretty dismal interview with the Ernie Kaplowitz (Jason Earles) character and real life hotties Angela Little and Rachel Veltri. Lasting less than 5 minutes, this segment neither offers nothing nor says nothing about anything.

Band Camp's Dirty Secrets; Rover Cam Uncut! and Band Camp Girls: The Music Video

The ubiquitous Angela Little and Rachel Veltri give us a set tour in Band Camp's Dirty Secrets. If it isn't already apparent, everything about this DVD is to try and create some potential aspect of T&A. These girls walk around the set showing us the various locations we have seen in the movie, and they also begin this segment by informing us that we are in fact in Malibu, CA and not Michigan. Rover Cam Uncut! is a like a completely separate movie, showing us some of the "behind the scenes" happenings with the characters from the film. This is actually pretty cool because it is something new and it goes hand in hand with the movie. Also, it doesn't play like a deleted scene. Band Camp Girls: The Music Video features Veltri, Little and a bunch of the other ladies dancing around to that now famous tune, Baby Got Back. While that song still has some sort of credibility in certain circles, it fast becoming the You Shook Me All Night Long of the teen movie set.

Unrated Love Lessons with Ginger Lynne

Lastly, I found the Unrated Love Lessons with Ginger Lynne to be a bit gross. I have never been a pornography historian, so I guess that might explain why I have never thought too highly about Miss Lynne. Now, seeing her in this movie has done nothing to change that opinion. Sadly, she looks used up and watching her here describing sexual acts and body parts using fruit, was a bit too much for my puritanical tastes.

Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.78:1. This movie has the same "bubbly" feel that all the rest of the American Pie films have. Since it takes place in the summer, everything and everyone also looks as perfect as can be. In general I think this film works because nobody is trying to too hard. The creators of American Pie: Band Camp aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, so much as they are just trying to keep it rolling. While there is nothing too special about how this movie looks in general, they did seem to capture the feel of summer camp in summer time. Hey, I had to write something, right?

English, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitled in English, Spanish and French. Filled with those now sadly, formulaic "punk" tunes, this movie is one of those that doesn't get the idea that true "punk rockers" are never this good looking. Okay, I will put away my punk pride hat now. This movie is quick moving, filled with music and plays almost effortlessly. It is one of those films that will tell you everything want to know not by watching the trailer, but by merely looking at the poster. This said, everything is in order in the audio department and because of that one really cannot say too many bad things about the "sound" of this movie.

Filling the cover of this DVD with good looking guys and girls (and then Eugene Levy) will more than pique a few people's interest in this film. They have even used the American Pie fonts, so that at first glance one might just buy this movie thinking they will see the original characters from the first three films. The back features two shots from the movie, a description of the film, a large list of "Unrated Exclusives", a cast list and some technical specs. What I liked the most about this packaging (and the movie) is that it is simple and gets right to the point.

Okay, lets be honest with ourselves here. The big reason that we watch these movies, if not the only reason, is because of the people in them. As a guy, I can't help but hope that these females who just happen to be scantily clad, will eventually get even more clad in their choice of wardrobe. Also, it's fun seeing Matt Stifler get into the situations he does, especially when he brings on so many of his own problems. Yet, there is something winning in how he constantly goes against the grain. While I am not encouraging others to be like this character, there is something to be said for a guy who is an equal opportunity a-hole.

American Pie: Band Camp is a solid movie that is sure to elicit laughter and sales.