American Reunion [Review]

I have fond memories of the original American Pie film as a thirteen year old boy, wondering if that was really what college life was going to be like (it wasn’t, it was more evening working, lunchtimes in the Tesco canteen and coursework) and enjoying the moment when, at the end of the school year, our RE teacher asked us to bring videos in to watch and someone brought this in, before it was hastily turned off and we went to do rounders instead. So, when it was announced that the whole cast was reuniting for a third sequel after the various straight-to-DVD releases I knew it was something I’d have to see.

Sadly, like several films recently, lots of the best moments were spoilt by the trailer; when will film makers stop doing this? However, there are still lots of great moments and, aside from a few cringey shoe-horned references to the first film that seem to have only been put in for nostalgia purposes but seem awkward, it’s back to the, erm, quality of the original films. The story revolves around the original gang – Jim, Oz, Kevin and Finch – meeting up a few days ahead of a thirteenth (read it’s too late for a tenth) reunion of the class of ’99. Jim is now a father with Michelle and struggling with balancing the relationship between being a father and a husband (the opening scene hinted in the trailer is a funny opening); Oz a television celebrity with all the trappings that has come with; Kevin a stay-at-home househusband; and Finch a globe-trotting adventurer, or so he says.

But, their meeting is crashed by Steve “Stifmeister” Stifler, still living in the area having never really grown up and thus chaos ensues as the group get themselves into a string of random, awkward and disgusting scenarios, against a backdrop of how their lives have changed from the sexless marriage of Jim and Michelle, to the awkward minor-celebrity lifestyle of Oz, to the realisation of Steve Stifler that he is no longer in high school and should behave accordingly, though this maturing does not last long.

As always with the films it’s the excellent Seann William Scott who steals the film, getting the best lines and set-pieces. Though he appears to have turned into an impression of a young Jim Carrey, it’s Scott that keeps the film together and is the highlight of the piece. Credit should also go to the ever reliable Eugene Levy as Jim’s dad who, though not getting the laughs of previous films, still has his moments and is as awkward as ever, and as the two-hour film nears its conclusion he gets his own key moments and a cracking credits scene.

American Reunion is a worthy addition, and supposed conclusion, to the franchise and, though it fails to have that one key scene that defines the film like, for instance, the superglue and porn tape sequence of American Pie 2, it has its great moments alongside, unusually, its moments of real character building, though they are often overshadowed by naked and sex jokes. Key moments include Steve’s revenge on some contemporary high school kids and an awkward moment between Jim and MILF Guy with a girl passed out in his lap and the ensuing farce that follows.

Mentions should also go to the soundtrack, which includes a great mix of songs from the period and beyond, and to the actors who, though this franchise is mostly what they’re only known for, are willing to give it their all.

American Reunion was never going to be a high-brow comedy or indeed laugh-out loud funny but it is well worth a watch with some great comedic scenes, some great cameos from characters from the first films (and Neil Patrick “I’ll cameo in any film” Harris) and at times some genuine, touching observations on how their lives have changed, and not always for the better. It also has its fair share of fart, nob and sex jokes so you won’t be disappointed in that area, either. Ooh err.

(7/10)