American Reunion
2.5 Stars (Out of 4)

Review by Jolene Mendez

“American Pie” came out when I started high school and I remember it being a film that everyone talked about and could relate to on some level. Now over a decade later they are having a reunion in “American Reunion” bringing back all the original players. Years have past and lives have changed, but some things never change. Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) are married with a two year old and seem to have complications finding the spark their relationship use to have. They make plans to rekindle the fire when they return home for the reunion.

Their plans for a romantic weekend go awry when Jim meets up with the boys Oz (Chris Klein), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and wild child Stifler (Seann William Scott). Reliving the old days and taking shots at Stifler’s request it is more than the married man can handle. Stifler is still supplying the liquor and is the life of the party, Oz has a successful career and a superficial girlfriend, Finch is a traveling man who is living the life of mystique and Kevin has settled down into a suburban life he loves.

Get this group back together and things just get crazy. As the reunion draws closer friendships will be tested, but this groups connection is too strong to let one weekend destroy it. “American Reunion” was a blast from the past and opens the Pie craze up to a new generation. There have been multiple versions and sequels to the original, but I found this one to be my favorite. As I anticipate attending my ten year reunion this year, and having changed so much in that time I could relate very much to this film and the humor it offered. For some reason whenever you get around those high school friends your are pulled back into those memories of how care-free you were. It’s nice to be reminded of that.

Review By:
Jolene Mendez, JoReviews.com

The entire cast of the raunchy comedy hit “American Pie” that grossed $100 million in the summer of 1999 is back. This is the third sequel in the franchise with the whole gang returning to the fictional small town of East Great Falls, Michigan for their 13th high school reunion.

Screenwriters Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg were huge fans of the original and play up the nostalgia as the characters now in their early 30s enter a different phase of life. They stick to the formula of mixing sweet heart-tugging moments with giddy gross-out humor.

Several episodic storylines are contained within the nearly two hour running time. We learn where all the characters have been and what they have been up to since “American Wedding.”

Jim and Michelle Levenstein (Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan) tied the knot in the prior movie. They now have a 2-year-old son named Evan. Since Evan was born, their sex life has been nonexistent. They view the long reunion weekend as a chance to spice things up and rekindle the romance that has been missing in their relationship.

After arriving home and being greeted by his widowed dad (Eugene Levy), Jim is distracted when he sees Kara (Ali Cobrin). She is the girl next door that he used to babysit. Kara invites him to her 18th birthday party. Her dialogue is filled with double entendres with sexually suggestive inferences. Her ulterior motive is to lose her virginity.

Jim’s high school buddies Oz (Chris Klein), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nichols) and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) reminisce about the past and their first loves.

Oz is a sportscaster living in LA with Mia (Katrina Bowden), a free-spirited model with cover girl looks. He gained celebrity status by appearing in a nationally televised dance show. Oz becomes jealous when he crosses paths with his old flame Heather (Mena Suvari) and her current cardiologist boyfriend Ron.

Kevin is happily married to Ellie, but emotional feelings are rekindled when he sees Vicky (Tara Reid) again.

Finch makes a nifty entrance on a motorcycle. He comes across as the most interesting man in the world as he spouts off about his worldly travels.

They share a table at a bar and are astounded when they realize the bartender is Selena (Dania Ramirez), Michelle’s friend from band. She used to be an ugly duckling, but has made the transformation into a lovely swan.

Stifler (Seann William Scott) shows up and becomes the ringleader for several juvenile escapades. He is still the chronically immature and sex-crazed guy he was back in high school.

This laughfest is filled with ridiculous and outrageous situations. Jim is caught with his pants down in several embarrassing scenes. There is a lot of eye candy with gorgeous women scantily clad in teeny weenie bikinis. Pop songs from the 1990s add to the ambience of this trip down memory lane.

The fun-filled party atmosphere makes you realize that this popular franchise made a lasting impression with memorable characters and a winning blueprint long before Judd Apatow (“The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up”) and “The Hangover” arrived in theaters with similar male-oriented themes.

The filmmakers understand the material and adroitly juggle the abundance of old and new characters in a way that never feels stale or repetitious. Everybody gets their happy endings as a nice tight bow is wrapped around this cinematic package.

Review By:
Keith Cohen "The Movie Guy"