American Reunion review by John Codner
Okay, well, the first few minutes is typical American Pie fare with Jason Biggs character Jim getting into a, shall we say, compromising position that ensues with classic comedic timing that’s reminiscent of the first film way back in the 90’s. Wow, and the funny thing is, not much has changed.
They still look and act the same, the father Eugene Levy doesn’t look like he aged a day, except that in this reincarnation he’s a widower trying to move on with his life. But we’re getting ahead of the picture, so let’s back up.
Jim and Michelle are married with a little one. Stiffler is still sarcastic, caustic, immature, and living at his mom’s home doing temporary work where he can get it. Finch is a world traveler, although that bubble may just be that, a bubble. Then there’s Vicki and Kevin, who are separated by careers and one is married to another woman, yes, it’s Kevin who’s gotten hitched.
It begins with an ominous 13-year high school reunion where all are invited back to relive the good times. They meet up at the local tavern, have a few drinks, and then even more hilarity comes when Jim wakes up hung over at home in his kitchen pants less. You can guess that this is when his wife and her friend show up.
In the unrated version, the girl next door is Jim’s neighbour he used to baby sit when she was a kid, but now she’s all grown up with the assets to prove it.
We move from one party to another, each one filled with nubile young teenagers, who as you might have surmised, one is entranced by Jim’s older but wiser ways and tries to jump his bones, not once, not twice, but three times with more compromising positions, a naked drunk girl being carried around, parents who hear noises coming from their daughter’s bedroom, but after investigating, discovers only the girl asleep in her bed. So, where did Jim and the boys disappear too? You’ll have to watch the movie to find out. Come on, you knew I wouldn’t spoil it for you.
We finally get to the reunion, where more regulars show up from previous sequels of American Pie, but ironically, none of them are from the other low budget sequels that went direct-to-dvd, not even Stiffler’s cousin, or is it brother?
I can never get that one straight. I guess one has to assume the film franchise thought getting back the originals had more cache than the other wannabes through the years.
Tonight, if you’re looking for another crazy off-the-wall American Pie movie to watch in the comfort of your own home, then okay, you got it. However, just don’t expect anything new to latch onto as this is just Jim, Michelle, and the rest of the gang a little older, but not much wiser.
I give this movie……….…3 out of 5 popcorn buckets
