Movie Reviews

American Reunion Review

User Rating:  / 0

Details

Written by Jonathan Jacobs

Let me start by saying welcome back Chris Klein (Oz), you were sorely missed in American Wedding. Klein's career took a nose dive after he failed to appear in the third installment of the series. He looks fantastic and reprising his role has gone a long way toward solidifying the cohesion of the cast. Many will recognize him now as the character Drew on the FX television show "Wilfred".

Jason Biggs (Jim) does indeed look like a fat Adam Sandler. Perhaps his agent should have told him to stop eating donuts before filming, but quite frankly fatty foods have helped Biggs lose his annoying stammer. If gaining 25 pounds cures speech impediments then by all means move out of the way Jenny Craig. Biggs carries the entire show. It is impossible to divorce him from all things authentically American Pie.

This franchise helped Alyson Hannigan (Michelle) become a major television star on the smash hit show airing on CBS, "How I Met Your Mother". She is gifted and talented but not above playing the naughty-naughty Michelle one last time. Hannigan is as raunchy and funny as ever.

Thomas Ian Nicholas (Kevin) is all grown up and sporting a caveman beard. He is a great deal more self-assured as an actor but he fits in perfectly with the cast. Though Nicholas may never light up our worlds on fire, he can be a suitable chess piece in independent films.

Tara Reid (Vicky) may have undergone some career ruinous plastic surgery a few years back but she is still quite stunning. It is wonderful to watch her and all of the actors from American Pie playing characters so easily and naturally. Look for her to star in low budget, straight-to-DVD pictures and on the pages of Playboy.

Sean William Scott (Stiffler) has been through some rough times in his personal life. His career has never been about anything other than slapstick comedy and he tries way too hard. Perhaps it is his persona or maybe his face that makes all of us want to say "what's up fuckface?" That aside, there may never be a character as funny, obnoxious, chauvinistic and crude as the Stiffmeister and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Long live the cave man outside of his man cave.

Mena Suvari (Heather) is back to fall in love with Oz all over again. They look perfect together. Best of all, Suvari has a smoking hot little body. Talk about an overlooked piece of talent.

Eddie Kaye Thomas (a.k.a. the Finchmeister) has found himself on the losing end of the career battle. Never mind that because with his brains it is so easy to invent an alternative truth. Shit Brick is still the baddest dork on the planet. Unfortunately that planet has yet to be discovered, population 1.

John Cho's career started when he called Stiffler's Mom (Jennifer Cooliidge) a MILF. It is only befitting that he returns as the same MILF identifying curmudgeon/weirdo. Look for Mr. Cho in the next Star Trek film alongside the rest of the crew of the Enterprise.

Eugene Levy (Mr. Levenstein) is precious. His humor is so old-fashioned and yet so modern. He plays a father figure with great compassion and skill. Mr. Levenstein's romance with Stiffler's Mom is priceless. How old is Levy? Does it matter? Not as long as he has Viagra on stand-by.

There are a ton of cameos in American Reunion but none more hilarious than Nadia's (Shannon Elizabeth). She has married a Jason Biggs Doppelganger except shorter and even dorkier. In many ways Elizabeth propagated the myth that beautiful women love dorks...for who they are and not for their money. Like I said, the myth.

It was truly wonderful to watch the band getting back together but it is a little painful to know that it is over probably for good. The American Pie series spanned more than a decade and it helped define an entire generation. I hope that every actor that has been a part of this wonderful series will achieve great success even if they have never seemed ready to take the next step. Trust me folks when I tell you this is not an ordinary comedy movie, it is a centerpiece of American culture. All of the best parts of American Pie are highlighted and expanded on in American Reunion. What a great show, bravo folks!

Jonathan Jacobs

www.screenspotlight.com

• < Prev
• Next >