Chris Klein, Mena Suvari, Thomas Ian Nicholas and Tara Reid more or less ride out their screen time. Ms. Reid appears to acquit herself best in the group, possibly because the deck was most obviously stacked against her given her very public mishaps. If you're wondering what their characters have been up to (and I dare you to name them), you'll find out in this movie. But the heart and soul of the film has always been Jason Biggs' Jim Levenstein, and his inexhaustible ability to embarrass himself sexually.
Eugene Levy is, once again, a gem as Jim's dad, and, perhaps fittingly, he's the only one with a real grown-up subplot - involving coming to terms with the death of his wife (yes, in an "American Pie" movie!). Mr. Levy manages to add just the right dollop of sadness to his trademark clueless father act.
On the other side of that raunchy coin is Seann William Scott, who still hasn't found a character as perfectly suited to his talents as Stifler. This time around, he's more or less all that keeps the movie moving. His every moment on screen is one one-liner after another, all delivered with unabashed snarky glee.
But at the center of it all remains Jim and his wife Michelle (Alyson Hannigan). It's hard to dislike Mr. Biggs' continuing brand of man-boy haplessness. And Ms. Hannigan, the once and future Willow, makes a great match for him. They actually make a cute and semi-believable couple (though the thought of them as parents is more than slightly disconcerting). In fact, they are so well matched that - as in the past - their is virtually nothing at stake in their relationship, even when Jim is caught trying to sneak a half-naked co-ed back into her house.
As compared to past "Pie" films, it's a tame conundrum for Jim. And one that would be easily explained if these characters weren't caught in such a comically stunted state of arrested development. But that's why we come to an "American Pie" movie: uncomfortable sexual situations. An unfortunate superglue incident here, a mishandled truffle cover-up there, to say nothing of the now-infamous man/pastry coitus interruptus. With a rap sheet like that, it's not hard to understand how this group can be so maladjusted.
But in an age of smart R-rated comedies like "Bridesmaids", can these shenanigans still sustain a franchise? Well, it's like hanging out with that old friend who never changes. In a way, there's comfort in knowing what you're in for, but don't expect any surprises. This is not a slice of life, just another piece of "Pie".
| Movie title | American Reunion |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2012 |
| MPAA Rating | R |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | If you've been wondering what the "American Pie" gang has been up to for the past nine years, this is the movie for you. If not, why are you still reading? |
