Everyone must be in a good mood today, the new reviews page is filled with 4/5 star ratings. Must be...
Everyone must be in a good mood today, the new reviews page is filled with 4/5 star ratings. Must be the sun finally returning.
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What do you get when you cross American Pie 4 with the 40 Year Old Virgin? A very uneven boxset. These films are both classed as sex comedys, however whilst the 40 YOV achieved something American Pie: Band Camp is just a money spinner. Lets start at the good end...
Like a virgin, touched for the very first time. Only Madonna was singing about the emotions, and Steve Carell plays the living, breathing, 40 Year Old Virgin in this movie of the same title. Carrell, who you maybe familiar with for his appearance in Anchorman, plays Andy Stizer. Whilst Andy has tried to have sex in the past it has never gone his way, ruining situations by kicking girls with foot fetishes in the face, only to just give up. This movie follows him as his work colleagues become his friends and try to get him laid for the first time, and we follow Andy on his quest to lose his virginity that arrives as a quest for love.
Andy works in an electronics superstore and pretty much doesn't have much to do, he just bikes to work every morning (that's right, he doesn't have a car, but that's environmentally friendly). Andy does what he has to do, goes home, and gets paid at the end of the month like any average guy. This means he doesn't have any real friends, except for the elderly couple that live above him and every week he visits them to watch Survivor together. Yipee, what a life. That is why when Andy begins to make some friends his own age there is an interesting dynamic going on. David (Paul Judd), Jay (Romany Malco) and Cal (Seth Rogen) are the main work colleagues that feature in the film, and it is just by luck that they don't have enough people to play a poker game one night so invite Andy along for the ride.
Interestingly this is a major comedy on the movie circuit and it doesn't feature Ferrell, who if you haven't noticed I've been covering quite a bit in my recent reviews. There is a similar line up of characters as David (played by Judd) featured in Anchorman alongside Carell and Ferrell, and even Cal (Rogen) was in Anchorman as an eager cameraman. Not being tied down as a film for the Ferrell fanbase does give this film some wider appeal however.
Cal is the one who works closest with Andy and is pretty much sure he is a psycho, as they discuss what they did over the weekend Cal can dish out all these stories about getting drunk, going to Mexico and watching a live animal sex show, whilst all Andy has to comment on is making an egg sandwich but forgetting he didn't have any bread. Cal finds this mindnumbingly boring, however the whole group are fascinated in him when it comes to sharing sex stories over the game of poker. Andy, embarrassed of being a virginity, comes up with a story that describes a womans breast as a bag of sand, and immediately the gang smell something foul. For Andy he feels like nothing worse in the world
could happen.
On his way to work the next day Andy is dreading what might be said to him, and even practiced comeback lines, "So what if I've never had sex, I could still fuck you up." But he soon discovers they're not needed, as everyone is really ordinary with him. Except for Mooj and Jay that is. Jay has set up a video of women in bikinis on all the TV's in their department, and shouts to the roof tops his ambition to teach Andy how to wow the ladies. Mooj tries to give his advice slightly more quietly to Andy, although when Mooj finds out that Andy is 40 and not 20 he is more than a little shocked. I should also introduce Paula (Jane Lynch) at this point, a little older than Andy and his superior at work, but that doesn't stop her from making a move to be Andy's 'fuck buddy'. Surely not, Andy?
A side story to the film is the relationship between Mooj and Jay, the only two coloured members of the cast, who fight at every chance - whether it be over their race or their customers. Jay is not frightened off any fight, and Mooj isn't even. This leads to some hilarious moments.
The attack on his sexual inexperience gets too much for Andy as he rushes out of the workplace, although David follows him and manages to calm him down in a cafe. David reassures him that there is nothing wrong with him, and explains his experiences with love have been nothing short of heartbreaking, with him losing weight and gaining weight. A running story throughout the film is actually the story of David still being in love with his ex, even though she has no interest him anymore and cheated on him numerous times. It's over but David cannot come to believe that.
eBay, we've all heard of it right? Well how about a shop called 'We Sell Your Stuff On eBay'. This shop is located across the road to where Andy works, and one day the owner of the shop comes in to browse and Andy has the pleasure of serving her. Trish and Andy immediately hit it off, and several times Andy tries to pluck up the courage to phone her only he is advised by his friends that if he's going to lose his virginity he should lose it to some nothing girl, because lets face it - first time around, he's going to be awful. Oppertunitys for Andy to get some target practice in do not go his way though; either the girl is passed out, drink driving and throwing up over him or just a very fit freak. More of a Cal kind of girl that last one.
Giving in Andy and Trish begin dating, and it goes really well until Andy goes to the bedroom with her and has trouble discovering how a condom works. As Trish prepares herself in the en suite, Andy goes through rubber after rubber when Trish's daughter from her previous marriage walks in with her boyfriend and that spells trouble. Trish's daughter cannot believe her mother still does not permit her to have sex with her boyfriend, yet from the sight of all the condoms on the floor it gives the impression that Trish and Andy have a very active sex life. Keeping this in mind Andy and Trish decide for the best it is probably they don't have sex until they've reached a high total of dates.
This time allows Andy to almost become a family man, defusing fights between Trish and her daughter as well as entertaining Trish's youngest daughter with magic tricks. Being the geek Andy is, his flat is full of toys still in their original packaging, and the couple set about selling his collectables on eBay, which all together could reach an incredible amount of money that could make their dreams come true. The question is, will Andy finally be able to go the whole way with Trish or will his insecurities get the better of him?
At first I thought the film was a bit too long for me, running at 2 hours and 7 minutes makes it a really long comedy, although on second watch the film really grew on me. There are some hilarious moments, such as Andy getting his chest waxed and the woman doing the waxing can't help but laugh. Also the whole group go speed dating at Date-A-Palooza, and when Jay's girlfriend finds out Andy has to act like he is the sexist pig. The film is a certificate 15 unsurprisingly due to all the sex references, although I feel this film could appeal to a broad range of people - yet it's probably not something I'd watch with my mum. A must-watch 2005 film though, better late than never.
Never seen an American Pie film before? Well you don't really need to for Band Camp as there is no continuation from the previous trilogy, although band camp is a phrase that has came through the ages for those followers of the franchise. If you missed them band camp is not just a place for the outcasts of the school, but is actually the place to get the best teen sex education you can. The 2005, fourth installment, of American Pie features new cast member Tad Hilgenbrink as Matt Stifler.
Matthew is the younger brother of the Stifler featured in the earlier films, and like younger brothers seem to do, he idolizes the original Stifmeister. Afterall, meister is German for master. This route of life is guarenteed to get him in trouble, and sure enough as Stifler and his two friends decide to ruin the band geeks performance by putting pepper spray on the ends of their instruments his can of pepper spray leaks into his pocket. With all the commotion of the performance falling apart Matt finds a water fountain where he dacks his trousers and underwear to cool himself down with the water, only a member of the band trips off after the horror of tasting pepper spray therefore pulling down the curtain hiding Matt and his bare behind is revealed to the entire crowd.
A typical American Pie beginning, but with only two characters making the cast cut it's not going to feel like your usual film. Those two who have made it to the fourth film are Mr. Levenstein (Jim's dad) and the Sherminator. Sherman, who was well known for his cheesy Terminator chat up line, is now the school guidance councillor and it is on his say so that Matt goes to band camp to make up for what he did to the band performance, or he will be expelled from school. The education side of things isn't was worries Matt, but missing his final year at school and Prom would be a big blow for anyone in their last year of schooling.
Things begin to fall into place for Matt as he realises by going to band camp he could secretly video them all just like his older brother used to make videos. It's a very strange story, but nevertheless que the scene with Matt ordering boxes of spy equiptment to use. We do get more of an insight into Matt's character than we ever have with a Stifler in the past, because I mentioned earlier not only does Matt look up to his older brother and try to be like him, he's scared not to be like him. And the trademark arrogance comes into play as soon as Stifler arrives at Talloaks Band Camp.
Upon arriving at band camp Matt is confronted by the veterans who seem to spend every Summer there, and this small group is lead by Brandon Vandecamp. If you can't tell by the name, he's the rich boy who gets pretty much whatever he wants. This year he wants to win the band camp competition, where the winner will get a very special musical apprenticeship. Matt is not one to be told what to do, and fights back against Brandon and his friends. These confrontations lead to Matt having to go to speak to the big scary M.A.C.R.O. incharge of things at Talloaks, only this job falls to Jim's dad.
Here we find out a little about the other old characters missing, and that Michelle is usually incharge except she's pregnant with Jim's baby so he's taken over. This pretty much means anyone can get away with anything throughout the film. Don't hope for anymore cameos because as I said before Mr. Levenstein and Sherman are it!
Matt has problems with the geeks for being a jerk, and the girls for being a Stifler, mean that for once he's not the man everyone wants to be friends with. And after getting 5 points deducted from his band group for not wearing his newbie hat, he has to shape up and win everyones trust. Elyse, the band leader, cannot stand Matt but after he begins to act like he's interested in making the band a success she does fall for him and that means Matt is one step away from getting what he wants - a successful porn video.
Other characters to feature are; Riggler, the fat but loveable black guy; Jimmy, the asian; Chloe, the freaky girl; and Ernie, the shy boy. These act as a fundamental part of the story, although nothing really comes of a Chloe/Ernie relationship and the Riggler/Jimmy scenes aren't actually that funny. The entertaining scenes, that come few and far between, are all led by Matt. For example, after a night drinking Matt gets his penis stuck in an instrument and has to go to the nurse (like he does many times in the film) to have his problem fixed.
To be honest I think Band Camp comes as an embarrassment to the American Pie franchise. Matt played his character well at the beginning of the film and you could actually take him seriously as being a part of the Stifler family, although as his character grows he just becomes another one of those guys in a teen comedy. This is just a teen comedy afterall, because I find it hard to believe anyone older than the certificate 15 will actually want to watch this. At an hour and 27mins it's not that long, but still a waste of time. The big question of the film is will Matt make his video and will Elyse lead her band to victory, but it's all very predictable so I won't even bother to include a question mark there.
My verdict would be to purchase 40 Year Old Virgin separately, as Band Camp drags this boxset down drastically.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Sorry, it appears on http://dvd.ciao.co.uk/Comments-on-Review__American_Pie_Presents_Band_Camp_DVD_5631563
Soho_Black 24.02.2007 08:13
Not Helpful as content also appears on http://dvd.ciao.co.uk/American_Pie_3_Disc_Anthology_Three_Discs_DVD__Review_5633078. Once one of these reviews is removed or rewritte, I will re-rate.
carly_pussycat 01.02.2007 17:48
I agree with you mostly because that Band Camp thing was a cash in, although funny as 40YOV was I wouldn't want to see it again so I would recommend renting it rather than buying
American Pie: Band CampA spin-off rather than a sequel,Band Campis the fourth entry in ... more
theAmerican Piefranchise, but the first without the original cast. Instead a new trash-talking teen takes the lead. His name is Matt (Tad Hilgenbrinck) and he's Stev...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
American Pie: Band CampA spin-off rather than a sequel,Band Campis the fourth entry in ... more
theAmerican Piefranchise, but the first without the original cast. Instead a new trash-talking teen takes the lead. His name is Matt (Tad Hilgenbrinck) and he's Stev...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
American Pie: Band Camp - Get ready for another hilarious slice of American Pie - one of ... more
the biggest comedy franchises of all time! In 'American Pie presents: Band Camp', Stifler's younger brother Matt is sentenced to a summer at the infamous band camp...
![American Pie Presents: Band Camp/The 40 Year Old Virgin [DVD] [2005]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/70093958.jpg "American Pie Presents: Band Camp/The 40 Year Old Virgin [DVD] [2005]")
exceptional by (13%):
very helpful by (87%):
