American Wedding

Rated R for heavy sexual humor and dialogue, nudity and profanity

Review by Tom Johnson
(tomjohnson@thecinemasource.com)

Against the odds, "American Pie" was a funny and surprisingly memorable experience, despite its potential to be a teenage wasteland. Even more surprising was "American Pie 2", in which the creative team not only managed an unlikely sequel, but actually made it better than the first one. But the skepticism surrounding the second film was nothing compared to the groans heard when a third "Pie" was announced. With the teen gross-out genre officially played out, it seemed pointless for writer Adam Hertz to make one more trip to the original well one more time. It was difficult imagining any more horrific sexual escapades for Jim(Jason Biggs) to encounter, but I'll give Hertz his due: he's a flat-out genius in crafting high-brow situational humor from the lowest-brow gross-outs imaginable, and the formula here seems just as fresh as it ever was. For some reason, I'm not surprised to say that "American Wedding" is the series' best installment yet.

As the title suggests, Jim and flute-loving girlfriend Michelle(former Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast member Alysson Hannigan, just because I'm a loser and take every opportunity I get to mention the show) are fixing to tie the knot in a suspiciously quick-moving transition from proposal to ceremony. Hijinks inevitably ensue. Along for the ride are returning cast members Eugene Levy as Jim's Dad, as well as triple-named old pals Eddie Kaye Thomas and Thomas Ian Nicholas. Unexplainably absent from the film are Shannon Elizabeth, Tara Reid, Chris Klein, Mena Suvari and Natasha Lyonne. Not a single one is missed, or even remembered for that matter, once the film starts, and it's all the better that way. Thanks to the vacancies by these characterless characters, fresh new editions are made to the film, including cutie newcomer January Jones as Michelle's virginal younger sister and the always brilliant Fred Willard as Michelle's dad, joining Levy and Jennifer Coolidge in the Christopher Guest Alumni Club. The absence of dead weight this time around also leaves more room for the film's best element: in a word, Stifler. From his entrance, Sean William Scott returns to his best character with a vengeance, taking over the "Wedding" with a meatier role this time around. Just as Klein's Oz shared the first film's spotlight with Jim, Scott wrestles for the movie's focus and ends up sharing just as much, if not even more screen time than Biggs himself. It's all for the best.

Without Reid and Lyonne’s dim-bulb characters wasting space with "Rule of Three" garbage and the like, the non-humorous dialogue is much improved this time around, devoid of pretentious cuteness. We're thankfully spared another brother-knows-best conversation between Nicholas and Casey Affleck, and even get a

funny rib at the sappy speeches Nicholas' Kevin is fond of giving. As for the humor, most of it is better than anything seen in the series yet. Some are a little too predictable, including an all-too obvious set-up for a naughty grandma encounter, and a pubes-inspired gag that comes out of nowhere and seems gratuitous, but the duds are far outweighed by the inspired direct hits, including a gay dance club scene showcasing some of Scott's hidden talents, and a bachelor party mix-up guaranteed to leave everyone in stitches.

What really makes "American Wedding" so enjoyable is the very real sentiment at the heart of the movie. The situations are so horrifically funny because we actually like the characters they're happening to and want everything to work out in the end. Like the other films in the series, a surprising poignancy grounds the wacky proceedings. This is why the "Pie" series has always outperformed the classless competition, and this is why "Wedding" still feels organic in its grosser, more embarrassing moments. The quirky characters feel real, even if the situations don't. And with its heart proudly worn on its sleeve, "Wedding" thoroughly entertains, beautifully capping off the franchise I never knew I missed. It turns out the third slice of pie is the sweetest yet. Let's just hope they don't press their luck with "American Baby" any time soon.

Grade:B+

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Production Notes

The outrageously loveable characters embraced by audiences all over the world in American Pie and American Pie 2 reunite this summer for a very special occasion: American Wedding.

With East Great Falls High now just a memory, the kids have grown into young adults ready to wreak havoc with a new rite of passage — Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) are getting married — in a hurry. Jim’s grandmother is sick and wants to see Jim walk down the aisle, so they’re going for it in two frantic weeks. Stifler plans to be there (bridesmaids!), and more importantly to throw the ultimate bachelor party (strippers!). Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) is all for the hedonistic rituals, but not for letting Stifler steal the maid of honor, who happens to be Michelle’s sexy younger sister, Cadence (January Jones). While everybody else sweats and frets, Jim’s Dad (Eugene Levy) is cool as ever, dispensing advice that no one wants to hear and getting ready for one of the best days of his life. — © Universal Pictures