‘American Reunion’ Offers No New Ingredients to ‘American Pie’

By Maggie Scott

Judging from the stale, overdone proceedings of its latest installment, it may be time to take the American Pie franchise out of the Hollywood sequel oven for good.  American Reunion offers no new ingredients to the classic recipe of raunchy misadventures by the buddies of Michigan’s East Great Falls High School, who here gather for a class reunion and for a re-evaluation of, and possible revelation about, the premiere binding and bonding factor of their friendship: SEX.

As with most reunions, this one holds the possibility and promise of reuniting with former crushes, of concocting variations on old pranks and of, however briefly, re-living, if only in their imaginations, the old glory days. But then they  finally acknowledging the passage of time and the transition from careless and carefree youth to responsible and tied-down adult.

While the story opens in familiar vulgar territory involving internet porn and a shower wand, writers Adam Herz and Jon Hurwitz quickly demonstrate how the narrative will devote some quality time to Jim (Jason Biggs), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Oz (Chris Klein) and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas). All are  struggling to work through issues related to marriage, family life, careers and personal integrity.

So as not to lose fans who have come for the perverse proceedings, Herz and Hurwitz are careful not to dole out grown-up material for too long of a stretch before inserting copious shots of young women in bikinis, or involving one or all of the buddies in compromising, carnal quandaries; most of which are hatched in the dirty mind of their “professional adolescent” friend,

Steve Stifler (Seann William Scott), who arrives loaded for “bare” and determined to lead his disappointingly sedate friends astray.  While that will be a challenge where it concerns Jim, who has brought wife Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) along hoping to jump-start their hum-drum love life, Stifler has some success with the others aided by the presence of Heather (Mena Suvari), Selena (Dania Ramirez) and Vicky (Tara Reid).

These older (no doubt a put-off for hot-blooded youngsters in the audience) and wiser former flames with their “histories” with Oz, Finch and Kevin should have created some sparks, but come off in their scenarios together more like cold showers than stimulation.  The other major distraction for the guys is a bevy of the new generation (“more slutty?”) of teenage girls.

One in particular—Kara (Ali Cobrin)—sets her virgin cap for Jim.  His attempts at gentlemanly rejection get him into the film’s most hilarious pickle involving a pile of stuffed animals and falling off a roof dodging a suspicious dad, who’s clueless about just who may be taking advantage of whom when it comes to adolescent boys.

Before the reunion dance where all the kinks will be ironed out (or, enthusiastically embraced by the right partners as they get it on), Stifler will go for one more moment of hi-jinks glory with a party he discovers to his chagrined let-down is populated by former classmates more interested in drinking chardonnay than shots.

It’s up to Jim’s dad (Eugene Levy) and Stifler’s mom (Jennifer Coolidge) to give some wacked-out life to the party.  Turns out the character of Jim’s dad and his fumbling need to get back into life after the death of his wife provides one of the film’s few moments. It creates genuine feeling for its characters’ needs for sensual and emotional connection

‘Nuf said…heed the rating warning of R for adult content that includes bare breasts, profanity and profuse references to sexual fantasies and realities.

 

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