American Pie Unrated Blu-Ray Review

Unrated (Strong Sexuality, Crude Sexual Dialogue, Language and Drinking, All Involving Teens)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 36 Minutes

Cast-

Jason Biggs-James ‘Jim’ Levenstein

Chris Klein-Chris 'Oz' Ostreicher

Thomas Ian Nicholas-Kevin Myers

Eddie Kaye Thomas-Paul Finch

Seann William Scott-Steve Stifler

Alyson Hannigan-Michelle Flaherty

Tara Reid-Victoria 'Vicky' Lathum

Mena Suvari-Heather

Shannon Elizabeth-Nadia

Natasha Lyonne-Jessica

Chris Owen-Chuck Sherman

Eugene Levy-Jim's Father/Mr. Levenstein

Casey Affleck-Tom Myers

Jennifer Coolidge-Stifler's Mother

Directed by Paul Weitz

Feels just like the real thing!

R-rated comedies have come a long way over the past ten years and are now more popular than ever with their relatively low production cost and potential for huge box office returns. Directed by Todd Phillips, 2009’s “The Hangover” ended up grossing a massive $467 million worldwide against a cheap $35 million production budget and its 2011 sequel made even more with $581 million despite being panned by critics (audiences didn’t seem to care). Not surprisingly, Phillips is planning to helm a third film. The comedy subgenre has also enjoyed critical acclaim with last year’s “Bridesmaids” receiving two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Original Screenplay. Although winning was never in the cards (the Academy is just too biased), this acknowledgement is still noteworthy. R-rated comedies are nothing new but the subgenre fell out of favor until 1999’s “American Pie” led to a revival. That year also saw a number of high-profile releases that included George Lucas’ long-awaited prequel “Star Wars Episode I—The Phantom Menace”, the Wachowski Brothers’ groundbreaking science fiction film “The Matrix”, and M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout supernatural thriller “The Sixth Sense.” Acclaimed director Stanley Kubrick also passed away that year with his final film “Eyes Wide Shut” released posthumously. Riding a wave of hype during the summer of 1999 thanks to an extensive screening campaign on college campuses (which is being repeated for the fourth film), “American Pie” ended up grossing an impressive $235 million worldwide (against a measly $11 million production budget), leading to the creation of a widely successful comedy franchise that has now spawned three sequels along with four direct-to-video spin-off films. However, the intervening years hasn’t been exactly kind to “American Pie” and what was once considered to be pushing the envelope thirteen years ago seems tame in comparison to the R-rated comedies of today. Despite the fond reputation it has garnered among fans, “American Pie” simply isn’t a very good film as it desperately tries to garner laughs from the audience with a series of increasingly ridiculous sex jokes that often fall flat while the story goes nowhere until the final twenty minutes where it engages in awkward moralizing. Fortunately, the characters remain a likable and even relatable bunch, making them the sole saving grace in this uneven comedy. 

With only three weeks left until their graduation, four best friends from suburban Michigan decide to make a pact to lose their virginity before they leave high school after a dorky classmate named Chuck Sherman (Chris Owen) claims to have lost his during a party hosted by the popular but obnoxious and vulgar Steve Stifler (Seann William Scott). James ‘Jim’ Levenstein (Jason Biggs) is enamored with an attractive exchange student from Czechoslovakia named Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) and pursues her at the encouragement of his friends despite being socially awkward around women. However, he is forced to ask band camp geek Michelle Flaherty (Alyson Hannigan) to the prom after an embarrassing webcam incident online. Lacrosse player Chris ‘Oz’ Ostreicher (Chris Klein) decides to join the jazz choir club in an attempt to lose his reputation as an insensitive jock and find a girlfriend. He manages to win the affection of Heather (Mena Suvari) but their relationship is strained when she discovers Oz’s unsavory intentions. Meanwhile, Paul Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) pays a fellow classmate named Jessica (Natasha Lyonne) $200 to spread rumors of his sexual prowess around the school while Kevin Myers (Thomas Ian Nicholas) tries to take his relationship with Victoria ‘Vicky’ Lathum (Tara Reid) to the next level after being stuck in ‘third base’ for so long. Unfortunately, losing their virginity isn’t as easy as it sounds as each of them finds themselves in one ridiculous situation after another. 

The story in “American Pie” is as basic as they come and is little more than a skeletal framework for many of the outrageous events that occur throughout the film. Much of the material is rather tame despite its reputation as one of the raunchiest comedies ever made and although writer Adam Herz desparately tries to garner laughs from the audience, there simply aren’t many to be found. Just because the dialogue is loaded with f-bombs and various other vulgarities doesn’t mean it is automatically funny. There are some genuinely memorable moments including the infamous ‘apple pie’ and crazy webcam scenes (which reveal how far we’ve come in terms of technology) but that leaves much of the film spinning its wheels until the last twenty minutes when it realizes that there is still an actual story to tell. The four main characters go through a turning point and learn that there is more to life than losing their virginity but this last-minute moralizing feels rushed and insincere because this epiphany seemingly happens out of nowhere. “American Pie” does manage to capture the trials and tribulations faced by teenagers as they begin to transition into adulthood. The high school romances feel genuine as does the amiable relationship shared by Jim and his father. Unfortunately, too much time is spent on Jim’s friends and the film would’ve been better off focusing on one perspective instead of four at the same time. I find it puzzling that “American Pie” has enjoyed such a fond reception given its middling comedy and conventional plot but I believe much of its reputation stems from the fact that it tries to depict its characters as real people rather than as objects of humiliation (although that happens as well). Honestly, I feel Herz would’ve been better off writing a ‘dramedy’ instead of what we have here. 

The cast was made up of largely unknowns at the time with the exception of Alyson Hannigan (who was currently starring in Joss Whedon’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” on television) and veteran actor Eugene Levy. “American Pie” was Jason Biggs first lead role and he succeeds in capturing Jim’s good-natured awkwardness and easy excitability around sexually attractive women. The pseudo-sophisticate personality of Paul Finch fits Eddie Kaye Thomas like a glove but Thomas Ian Nicholas and Chris Klein do not fair so well. Nicholas often comes across as whiny and Klein is an absolute disaster with his slow line delivery. Seann William Scott founded his entire career on Steve Stifler, who comes off as a total a**hole with his annoying smirk but what do I know? Audiences seemed to have responded well to him because his role increased in the sequels. The female cast members appear to have been chosen based solely on their looks. Shannon Elizabeth is only famous for her extensive nude scene while Alyson Hannigan has far too little screen-time. Eugene Levy, however, excels with his deadpan delivery and deserves to be in the film more. The acting never rises above competent and is sometimes god-awful, leaving little mystery as to why the cast (with the exception of Hannigan once again) faded into relative obscurity. 

“American Pie” was released on Blu-Ray back in March to hype up the upcoming release of “American Reunion.” Strangely, it will be re-released later this summer to celebrate Universal’s 100th anniversary. I doubt anything will change so avoid double-dipping. While the picture is definitely superior to the DVD, it appears that digital noise reduction was used as often times faces look unnaturally smooth. Colors look lackluster and blacks tend to lean toward the fuzzy side of the spectrum. Audio is adequate with sharp dialogue but fails to deliver any kind of oomph considering all the licensed music used. Special features are surprisingly impressive with a 3 hour and 33 minute making-of documentary on the entire trilogy. Director Paul Weitz, producer Chris Weitz, writer Adam Herz and cast members Jason Biggs, Sean William Scott and Eddie Kaye Thomas are on-hand for the audio commentary along with some promotional material on the fourth film. However, all of the extras are presented in standard definition. 

Released on July 9, 1999, “American Pie” received mildly positive reviews with 60% on Rotten Tomatoes but whether critics liked it or not didn’t matter as the film ended up being a box office success with $235 million worldwide ($322 million if adjusted for inflation). Two sequels followed in 2001 and 2003 but both received mixed reviews and the series limped on with four direct-to-video spin-offs that tarnished the brand further. “American Pie” may have been a big deal thirteen years ago but I feel audiences were simply caught up in the novelty of seeing a teen sex comedy after the sub-genre fell out of favor. Although the coming-of-age aspects of Herz's screenplay ring true, the film is just so desperate for laughs that the main story is little more than an afterthought with its rushed plotting and clichéd resolution. Outside of a few genuinely funny moments, much of the comedy is too juvenile and falls flat on its face. If you never bothered with the film, it’s unlikely you’ll like it now but fans will continue to love it just for nostalgia’s sake.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 5

“I would like to make an announcement. There is a gorgeous woman masturbating on my bed!”