American Pie Trilogy

I recently had the urge to watch American Pie, a film I've seen a few times before, the first of which was during its theatrical release in '99.  I had seen parts 2 and 3 before too, but only once and it was right after they were released on video.  From what I remembered, the first two American Pies were hilarious and the third was spotty.  Actually I remember when I saw the first one in the theater wishing that it had come out a year before when I was still in High School.

American Pie is the story of four high school seniors who make a pact to lose their virginity before they graduate.  First is Jim (Jason Biggs) who has a huge crush on Russian exchange student Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) but ends up asking band geek Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) to the prom.  Then there's Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) who can't seem to get past third base with his girlfriend Vicky (Tara Reid).  Next is intellectual Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) who spreads rumors about himself to try to get a date to the prom.  Last is Oz (Chris Klein) who falls for Heather (Mena Suvari), a nerdy choir girl.  In American Pie 2, we follow the four friends on summer vacation after their freshman year of college.  They decide to rent a lake house and end the summer with a legendary party.  Only problem is that they have to bring along Stifler (Seann William Scott), the crude womanizer who may actually be the only one to help them with their girl troubles.  American Wedding focuses on Jim and Michelle who are now engaged.  Stifler hears about the wedding that he wasn't invited to and weasels his way in so he can plan the bachelor party.  Rivals Stifler and Finch then each try to win over Michelle's sister Cadence (January Jones).

After revisiting these films, my opinions haven't changed much.  American Pie is definitely the victor, and its immature jokes about sex, diarrhea and other such vulgar subjects still make me laugh.  American Pie 2, though not as good as the first still has enough of what made the first so great to be successful.  American Wedding still didn't do much for me.  Other than a few funny scenes, the film fell a little flat.  Stifler, who in the third installment has become a tired joke, at the same time is the only real saving grace in the film.  His rivalry with Finch makes for the most entertaining parts.  Overall a classic series of films that starts off excellent but turns out only okay.  Let's hope that the supposed part 4 (directed by the Harold and Kumar guys) happens and lives up to the originals.

RATINGS:


AMERICAN PIE:               9/10
AMERICAN PIE 2:            7/10
AMERICAN WEDDING:     4/10