New job, new hair (shorter anyway, maybe I'm balding) new dogs, I'm back. Hopefully...
New job, new hair (shorter anyway, maybe I'm balding) new dogs, I'm back. Hopefully...
Member since:30.01.2001
Reviews:69
Members who trust:35
Many years ago, we sat and laughed ourselves silly at films like National Lampoons Animal House. Why? Because they were funny, mindless films that passed the tine and made us smile. Now the college film has returned and it’s better than ever. American Pie shows all the classic traits of great college films, with many improvements to bring it up to date.
The plot centres around four high school friends, Jim, Kevin, Paul and Oz. They are hardly among the high school elite, and their sex lives are non-existent. With only a few weeks until their high school prom they decide that the time has come for their virginity to disappear, and they make a pact to all lose their virginity by the prom. The idea is that they will motivate and encourage each other.
As well as the loser club, the film looks at several other characters, the main being high school jock Steve Stiffler, the all round sports star and whiz with the ladies.
Plot
American Pie is the first film of it’s type in a long time, therefore all the jokes were new, this aids the way the film progresses as it’s neither old hat or predictable. But to me there is one big difference between American Pie and the old frat films, the girls.
In older films the girls were characterless, totally devoid of any drive of their own. Their sole purpose in the film was to be there as sexual objects. In American Pie the girls are as strong willed as the lads. They like sex, chase boys, swear and definitely have more about them as a result.
The relationships between the characters are explored more than older films, as we actually see the other side to the characters as well as the manic moments.
The film moves at a decent pace and there are plenty of gags, both visual and scripted. Most are very funny, but the plot is \what really gets the film a good rating. The storyline is not far fetched and you do feel a great deal for the characters. As a result American Pie is a film that will have a higher rewatch value, as there is a story to go with the jokes.
Acting
There are lots of new stars in this film, stars who have since gone on to do some great films.
Jason Biggs stars as Jim, the sexually frustrated nice guy. His performance is one of excellence, he is the main character and his interaction with other characters, especially his Father is great. You can’t help but have sympathy for him, and Biggs’s performance is the reason for this. He has a good ability to deal with the jokes he has, and even adds some visual gags to the film.
Seann W. Scott plays Stiffler, and he is my favourite from the film. His attitude and presence on screen are terrific, he has an energy about him and delivers his lines with both timing and style. He has the perfect voice for the role, I know that sounds weird but to be a high school jock you cant really be squeaky like David Beckham, Scott has the attitude and delivery to pull the role off perfectly, and as we have seen in Road Trip, it’s a role he excels in.
Mena Suvari stars as one of the girls, a choirgirl who gets chased by Oz. She has since gone on to perform superbly in American Beauty and in this film we get a decent glimpse of her talent. She perfectly epitomises the way the girls are in this film, not afraid to have a go back, yet shy and timid at times. Hardly the large chested, brainless bimbos of Animal House.
There are other great performances in similar styles (look for Buffy’s Alyson Hannigan,) I can’t recall all the names and I’m writing on the train so I can’t refer to the Imdb, but I will update this section, rest assured the stars and characters are great.
Overall
American Pie is a welcome return for the genre, the improvements have made this a better film than any of the old frat films.
The way the characters are makes for a story rather than a show. We actually have a plot, an idea behind the madness.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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Mar 8th, 2001
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