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View Date: July 29, 2001 Cast:
Directed by:
Written by: Official Site:
Related Viewings: Also see my reviews at:
Cast information and links
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American Pie 2 We've all been there,
whether we admit it or not. Growing up, wondering, hurting and
both curious and fearful of where our futures will take us. At the
same time, trying to hang onto the innocence of our youth and decipher
these new feelings and emotions. Our teen years were indeed a
whirlwind of confusion and pleasurable madness. Few film makers
have been able to capture all of these emotions into one effort,
John Hughes did it a decade and a half ago, but since then, no one has
really gotten the full picture. Adam Herz, J B Rogers, David
Steinberg and The Weitz brothers definitely do get it, and movie
audiences around the world are much better because of it.
The creators of the now franchise of American
Pie films have become the John Hughes of Generation Y-Not.
With just two films, they have captured the essence of teen
angst, dreams, desires, fears and concerns, all in one very neat,
sometimes crude, but always brutally honest, package.
Needless to say, those who were turned off by the first film
should stay away from this one. However
those who looked past the gross-out scenes and crude humor and saw the
true nature and heart of the matter will revel in the second slice just
as much as the first. The makers have garnered the perfect balance by
utilizing the characters and setup from the first film, but not carbon
copying in a cheap and empty attempt to make more money, as most sequels
do. Instead, they explore
other aspects, some are a stretch to include everyone, but the overall
effect is the same. There
are the scenes where you will bust a gut laughing and may miss jokes,
there are the scenes where some will cringe in pain or disgust, and
there are scenes which hit very close to home emotionally.
In the end, the lasting effect of the film is true, real,
unadulterated fun with a purpose, a spirit and a message about
friendship, family and love. All
wrapped up into one neat little pie. It's now one year later, and the gang is one year older, but not necessarily one year smarter. They've supposedly matured past their high school years, but a return home brings back all the old memories again. Feeling the need to break out of their monotony, they end up at Kevin's brothers beach house on the lake, figuring that the girls will migrate to them. Each still have their own stories going as well. Finch is still obsessed with Stiffler's mother, Kevin has not gotten over Vicky (who has moved on), Oz and Heather are separated by an ocean as she travels to France (probably because of Suvari's suddenly busy movie slate) and Jim is preparing for a visit from Nadia who is returning to the US to see him. He enlists the help of Michelle, his "first" to prepare. What follows are a series of actions, interactions, reactions and natural emotions primarily focused on the male aspect of things this time around. The writers understood that they can't carbon copy the first film, but instead they should relate the first film, maturing the situations slightly, but not necessarily the characters. The simple, similar, yet slightly different approach is the key to why the movie works, along with, of course the chemistry of the actors. If Jason Biggs could do only these roles, then his standing in Hollywood would be much stronger. As it is, these are the only shining in a short career that has some of the worst movies (Saving Silverman, Loser) in the years since the original. He is Jim, just as Scott will always be Stiffler, supplanting them as this generations Alan Ruck (Cameron, Ferris Bueller's Day Off) in that whatever they do, these will always be the roles they are known for. Part of why this film works lies in the fact that they didn’t tamper with the chemistry of the first film, writers, directors and entire cast have returned, and that definitely helps matters along. Elizabeth gets a larger role and more dialogue, while Klein and Suvari end up on the back burner this time. Levy shines, once again, as Jim’s father, balancing the nerdy father, with the loving one. I admire Rogers and company for introducing this long overlooked comic talent to a new generation. (see also Best in Show) In the end, it all works because Weitz (exec producer this time), Rogers (asst director last time, director this time) and Herz (writer both times) destroy the stereotypes of the teen film genre by instilling brains, heart, spirit and crude realism.. It may be hard to watch, hard to sit through and difficult to deal with, but remember back, so were those years of our lives (for those of us who are through them) Anyone who finds themselves dismissing the film as crude and childish should take a moment to remember back, before casting another stone in this films direction. It would be very easy to sit here and pick apart the faults of the film, such as an unnecessary story line, some unneeded scenes and characters and a scene that goes on a bit longer than it should. But to do that, would be looking too closely at a truly fun, magical, emotional experience. This film is a perfect example of how chemistry and the prevailing attitude and feeling can overshadow minor faults. The components that don’t work combine with the major aspects of the film that do, to create the final product which drives the point home that teens are overly hormonal but emotionally vulnerable. In the end, they, like all people seek acceptance, love and the most out of life. American Pie 2 captures all of this into a smartly written and executed package. Previous teen efforts chose to focus on the material aspects of things and dialogue that makes anyone with an IQ of 50 cringe. Creator Herz and writer Steinberg have continued the trend into the second film, by maintaining the same spirit and nature and infusing new doses and touches. The final product is a delicious slice of real Americana that shows that just because the cast members aren’t old enough to drink, doesn’t mean they aren’t old enough to feel and think. ($$$$ out of $$$$$)Agree? Disagree, Questions? Comments? |
