Matt Stifler has a ton of academic potential and a lot going for him. So what's his problem? Simply that he's burdened being Steven Stifler’s younger brother. Steven, while being an obnoxious jerk nobody likes, is a legend to Matt’s classmates because of his outrageous pranks, wild house parties, and -- recently -- the producer/director of his own hidden-camera films starring unsuspecting females. Still, Matt aspires to becoming his brother’s partner. Truth is, Steven is always off on some trip, and Matt feels he must do more to get noticed even when he's home. He faces the same problem with his classmates in American Pie Presents: Band Camp.

After much planning, Matt (Tad Hilgenbrink) believes his classmates will view him as a legend for executing the prank he's about to pull. He has pepper sprayed every instrument in the marching band’s year-end performance.  Unfortunately, after the musicians race off stage to flush their eyes with water, Matt gets caught red-handed in a rather compromising position. 

Steve's nemesis, Chuck "The Shermanator" Sherman (Chris Owen), happens to be the school guidance counselor. Thinking the younger Stifler can find redemption, Sherman decides that if Matt loves music so much he should enjoy spending the entire summer at band camp, located in the middle of nowhere and free of all luxuries. Thoroughly disgusted with the idea at first, Matt changes his mind when he finds out that Tall Oaks Band Camp is legendary for the way counselors and campers go wild. He realizes it's the perfect place to make a hidden-camera video.

Brandon (Matt Barr), a counselor who winds up on the wrong end of a kick to the groin, is bent on intimidating fellow campers upon their arrival. But he should never have made Matt wear a ridiculous beanie and T-Shirt. When camp director Mr. Levinstein (Eugene Levy) encourages Matt to try and make friends, Elyse (Arielle Kebbel) doesn't help matters. She storms into the office ranting over Matt being placed on her team. Elyse lost five points in the competition to win a full scholarship because of him, and she's certain she could trounce her competition if only Matt were not thrust on her.

Matt's roommate Ernie (Jason Earles) presents another obstacle. It's abundantly clear to Ernie that he should stay clear of Matt. When Matt’s camera lenses start steaming up in the girl’s locker room, he learns of a robot Ernie created that  could change all the cameras. Ernie suddenly becomes  invaluable to him, and all Matt has to do is get Chloe (Crystle Lightning) to take notice of his roommate. Piece of cake! 

Matt issues a challenge to Brandon. Rather than turn him in, Brandon knows that at band camp challenges mean one camper squares off against another in performance -- with points toward the scholarship on the line. He knows that Matt can't play a musical instrument and that Elyse, his nearest competition, would be down several points.

This infuriates Elyse until she sees that Matt can actually play the bagpipes. Her attitude about him starts to change. Is Matt really becoming a better person? Will he cooperate with Elyse so she can win the scholarship? Will Matt and Ernie be found out?

Hilgenbrink makes his debut here, and his Matt comes across as a bigger-than-life character who is the center of attention. This young newcomer bears a remarkable resemblance to Sean William Scott (who played Steven Stifler in previous American Pie outings). Although Hilgenbrink's acting is questionable, he mimics well and nails all of Scott’s old one-liners, facial expressions and mannerisms but adds little else to the character.

Directed by Steve Rash, the film moves with an uneven pace and suffers several key misfires with novice screenwriter Brad Riddell’s characters being so underdeveloped. The only character completely fleshed out is Elyse. By projecting a whirlwind of genuine emotions, Kebbel makes us believe that Elyse is sensitive, naive and easily hurt.  

Neither great nor terrible, American Pie: Band Camp will probably please fans of the franchise, while others may feel stuffed and unable to enjoy another slice of the same kind of pie.

(Released by Universal Home Video and rated "R" for sexual content/nudity, crude humor and language.)