American Reunion

[lety]

irresponsible, socially unacceptable antics are - once again, four theatrical films into the franchise - the best thing about this American Pie movie. If it weren't for the Stifmeister, American Reunion would be a nearly laugh-free 'comedy' packed with familiar Pie faces just doing the same old things.

Yes, American Reunion introduces a child into the lives of Jim (the Pie Guy) and Michelle ("One time, at band camp..."), so that's a new twist. But their relationship, even though it's supposed to be the very heart and soul of the story, feels more like an anchor weighing down the film. Do we care that Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) don't have time for sex now that they have a kid? Not really, and revealing Jim's penis (yes, there's full front nudity) is too little, too late as far as their storyline is concerned. And no, that's not a slam on size but rather the quality of the joke.

And how much do we care about the other Pie members? Not much, when it comes right down to it. Do you remember the names of the characters played by Eddie Kaye Thomas, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari, or Thomas Ian Nicholas? No? Neither do I, and after watching American Reunion their names still escape me. With American Reunion, their characters are basically just filler between Stifler's scenes. Stifler (played by Seann William Scott has always been the most entertaining member of the pack and it's only when he and/or Eugene Levy as Jim's dad are on the screen that American Reunion has any real life to it.

You know, when we first met Jim, Michelle, Stifler, Oz (Chris Klein), and the rest of the gang back in 1999, they were a fun, relatable bunch of sex-obsessed teenagers. American Pie 2, released in 2001, sort of captured that spirit - and the characters hadn't yet worn out their welcome. And, surprisingly, the third film, American Wedding, pulled off that rare feat of being a better film than its immediate predecessor. But the reason for the characters to get back together - a 13 year high school reunion...really? - in American Reunion doesn't make sense. And with a delay of nearly 10 years between the release of the third and the fourth film, we've had time to lose all interest in the group's antics.