American Wedding Movie Review:


American Wedding is supposedly the final chapter to the American Pie saga
and for the most part this final "piece" delivers. In 1999, the gross-out
hit American Pie about four teenagers looking to lose their virginity developed
an audience following similar to the following of the Porky’s or Police Academy
films of the 80’s. In 2001, the recycled sequel followed the teenagers
through their first year of college. Now with American Wedding, the teenagers are
adults and two of the crowd favorites are tying the knot.

Not all of the original characters or cast members are back in this third
installment, which actually helps the film more than it hurts it. The story
picks up three years after the sexually frustrated Jim (Jason Biggs) and the
girl from band camp Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) began going out. The opening
sequence of the film is where Jim pops the big question in a quintessential
"American Pie" situation with Jim’s lovable dad (Eugene Levy) being present. Jim
promises Michelle the wedding of her dreams, but of course there will be many
bumps along the way given Jim’s nature of bad luck. His groomsmen are the
mellow Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), the intellectual Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas),
and the foul-mouthed troublemaker Stifler (Seann William Scott). A competition
of affection develops between Stifler and Finch of trying to win the heart of
Michelle’s sweet sister Cadence (January Jones), who is also the maid of
honor. Many gross-out moments and slight dramatic instances occur as the wedding
begins to be put together in typical "American Pie" fashion.

The first American Pie film is a comedic classic, but the second
installment was so lame that many audiences forgot about the first film. Now with
American Wedding, it seems that some moviegoers are either rolling their eyes at
another franchise film or holding some interest in it. American Wedding is
nowhere near the laugh-a-minute enjoyment of the first film, but it has the same
nature and more flavor than the second one.

Adam Herz, who wrote the previous two films, seemed to go back to the
drawing board with this installment in finding the same tone and originality of
the first film, instead of rushing into another sequel like American Pie 2.
American Wedding is flawed, but still very funny. Herz dropped some of the
characters out of this installment that really did not need to be in the film,
such as Oz and Nadia. In a positive way, the dropping of the characters lets Herz
focus more on the ones that are actually more identifiable and critical to
this installment. Outside of all the typical situations and sick humor, Herz
puts a lot more time and focus on the filthy-mouthed jock Stifler, who delivers
many of the film’s laughs. The additions of Michelle’s parents and sister
also play out well into the story.

Director Jesse Dylan, whose previous directorial credit was How High
(2001), keeps the comedic posture of the film and the likeable drama balanced.
Though the American Pie films here crude and sick humor, the characters are
appealing because they are presented as everyday people in unlikely situations,
but ones that could happen. Dylan does an ample job directing this film by
delivering one humorous moment after another.

Most of the returning cast does not miss a beat in resurrecting their
performances. Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan blossom once again in their roles
as the engaged couple Jim and Michelle. The great Eugene Levy again steals
many moments as Jim’s very supportive dad. As the tyrant Stifler, Seann William
Scott is let loose to rave havoc in his expanded role. Scott is a comic riot
in this film and shares some terrific moments with Eddie Kaye Thomas, who
plays his competition Finch. New to the cast, the beautiful January Jones turns
in a gentle performance as Michelle’s sister and Fred Willard has a few
moments as Michelle’s father.

If you are not a fan of gross-out humor driven comedies, then skip this
film. However, if you are a fan of the American Pie films, than this one
should be enjoyment for you. American Wedding is just an additional chapter to the
franchise, that is nothing incredibly special, but it does serve up many
laughs.

Grade: B-

08/01/03
By Joseph C. Tucker

2001’s “American Pie 2” was some what of a disappointment to a lot of die-hard fans of the 1999 original film. There were a lot of awkward moments, useless cameos and returning regulars who had little purpose of being there. Placing that aside the second film did have the classic superglue scene and the Stifler-lesbians scene. The sequel was fun but didn’t even come close to the original. Now it has come down for one more trip back to the bakery with “American Wedding”.

Jim (Jason Biggs) and his sweetheart Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) have decided to take the next step and get married. Jim’s friends Finch (Eddie Kay Thomas) and Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) have decided to help out their friend with the wedding. Michelle’s parents (Fred Willard and Deborah Rush) and younger sister Cadence (January Jones) fly in for the festivities. The only thing standing in the way of a perfect wedding is renegade party-man Steve Stifler (Seann William Scott) who has his eye on Michelle’s sister Cadence and thinks Jim should have a huge bachelor party. Can the gang keep Stifler in check long enough for Jim and Michelle to have their dream wedding? What is Stifler’s hidden secret and why does Jim need it so bad to make his big day perfect?

“American Wedding” is a glorious return to what made the original film so wonderful. The jokes and hi-jinx don’t let up as a more trimmed down gang makes for better chemistry and momentum. From the opening sequence to the final nuptials, this film doesn’t stop with the humor.

What is a shock is that this is more Stifler’s movie than Jim or Michelle’s. Stifler’s character steals every scene he is in and the Adam Herz’s screenplay is brilliant in how he weaves Stifler into the very fabric of the film. There is a reason why he is in every scene.

Finch was always my favorite of the whole “American Pie” alumni because he was so much different than the other characters. Finch was always very reserved and cool at the same time. He wasn’t an imbecile like Stifler or awkward like Jim just cool. His whole “Mrs. Robinson” styled fixation did get tiring in the second film but Eddie Kay Thomas still was funny. Finch is also very reserved here but his almost straight-man mentality was really great for Stifler to bounce off of. The straight men of a comic duo never get the credit they deserve. I really do miss his short-lived WB series “Off Centre”.

There are so many classic and stellar comedy bits in “Wedding” and as it was with my reviews of the previous films, no spoilers here. Maybe one little tease, you will never look at a wedding cake or a chocolate truffle the same way again.

(4 out of 5)

So Says the Soothsayer.

Dean Kish

After finishing college Jim (Biggs) sees the next natural step in his relationship with Michelle (Hannigan) is to get married. After a rather public proposal, the two start to plan their dream wedding. With the help of Finch (Thomas) and Kevin (Nicholas), Jim hopes to get everything right for Michelle but when Stifler (William Scott) finds out that he is not included, he takes matters into his own hands by getting close to Michelle’s parents and her extremely attractive younger sister Cadence (Jones).

Most of the gang return for a third slice of American Pie and the jokes are as sordid and childish as ever.

Even though a lot of the cast are missing (Chris Klein as Oz, Shannon Elizabeth as Nadia, Mena Suvari as Heather and Tara Reid as Vicky), the key and best characters have returned for more fun with toilet, sexual humour. Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan are as good as ever as the hapless Jim and the nymphomaniac Michelle. They have excellent screen chemistry and have really grown into the roles. They are so well suited that you just can’t help smiling as you watch the two characters at the altar exchanging their vows. Seann William Scott and Eddie Kaye Thomas continue their mutual dislike of one another as Stifler and Finch. Fighting for the attention of Cadence, played by January Jones, Stifler and Finch go through a hysterical reversal of roles. Just imagine Stifler trying to be intelligent and you’ll get the picture. Thomas Ian Nicholas’s Kevin is still as uninteresting as ever, as the role is still seriously underwritten. Eugene Levy as Jim’s Dad steals the show again with some classic one-liners and his usual brand of advice.

The humour is as gross as ever and the comedic set pieces match the tone set by the previous movies. You know what to expect and the American Pie team deliver the goods, been the best exponents of the teen gross out comedy genre. But what sets these movies apart from the multitude of facsimiles that followed the original is the underlying themes that run through each film. The first covered sexual discovery and the second relationships, the third covers marriage, responsibility and finally growing up and again it does it really well. Credit has to go to the writer of all three movies, Adam Hertz who has injected these elements of Jim’s life in between his usual disastrous escapades.

American Pie: The Wedding is as funny as the previous two films and a great conclusion to a very well written and acted series (Unless we get a fourth outing of course). While I would have liked to have seen a bigger bachelor party and had a better explanation why so many of the characters where missing in the plot, the remaining cast members more than made up the ensemble sort comings. Just put it this way, you will never eat a chocolate truffle again.

Star Rating = * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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