Ah – the prom. That night in every teenagers life when they look back fondly on their school years and look forward to…getting laid afterwards!
This is the basic story behind American Pie. Four male high school students who are not having a lot (make that any) luck with the opposite sex and decide that prom night will be the night that they lose their virginity. Of course, first they have to find a girl willing to go along with their plans.
******WARNING - THIS OPINION CONTAINS SPOILERS ABOUT THE FILM - END OF WARNING******
Now, for Kevin, this shouldn’t be a problem. He has been with Vicky for a while now and has been trying to get in her pants for most of that time. But, being a good girl, she’s having none of it until he says he loves her. She’ll happily give him a blow job, but that’s as far as it goes! Until Kevin talks to his older brother and is told of ‘The Bible’ – a legend amongst boys at the high school, but the location of which is secret, until now. Will it provide Kevin with the skills he needs to seduce Vicky?
Then there’s Oz. Star of the high school lacrosse team; he should be a hit with the girls. But he’s trying too hard. So, after some advice from an older woman on listening
to women, he joins the jazz group, much to the amusement of his friends. Surprise, surprise, he turns out to be a pretty good singer. So of course the lead female singer (Heather) falls for his – somewhat hidden – charms. But is his voice enough to break down that ice-maiden exterior?
Next up is Finch – a bit of a nerd. Famous for having to run home every break to use the toilet, he resorts to employing Jessica to spread rumours about him in order to enhance his reputation. Jessica is the streetwise girl with all the advice, but does she have the experience to back it up? However, after rumours that Finch is hung like the proverbial donkey, every girl in school is waiting for him to ask her to the prom. But it all goes horribly wrong following a disastrous incident with laxative in his mochachino! (It could happen to anyone!)
And finally, we have Jim. Has no experience with the opposite sex at all and is caught by his dad very early on in the film watching porn movies and masturbating while wearing a sock over his willy! He has a good chance with Nadia, the foreign exchange student but blows it – twice – on a live webcast. Enter his saviour in Michelle, the geeky band student, who has a neat trick with her flute to share with him!
So, they are the main characters in the film, but there are other characters who are also important to the plot. Jim’s dad is the main one – he turns up at all the inopportune moments and tries so hard to talk to Jim about sex. He even goes so far as to buy porn magazines for him. Also, we have Stifler – another lacrosse player – and his mum. Both are quite small, but significant parts.
The cast are all relative newcomers and handle the roles well. Although the girls are, of course, extremely thin, well dressed and attractive (yawn), at least the guys look fairly normal! And they behave like typical teenagers – obsessed with sex! All of the cast members are believable in their roles, from the nerdy Finch to the worldly-wise Jessica, you can see them for what they are.
The main cast members are
Jim – Jason Biggs Oz – Chris Klein Jessica – Natasha Lyonne Kevin – Thomas Ian Nicholas Vicky – Tara Reid Heather – Mena Suvari Finch – Eddie Kaye Thomas Michelle – Alyson Hannigan Nadia – Shannon Elizabeth Stifler – Seann W Scott Jim’s Dad – Eugene Levy
So what makes it all so funny? Well, everything really. From the opening scenes with Jim and his sock, through Stifler’s party and the high school scenes, the prom and the after-prom party, right up to the final scenes with Jim and Nadia’s webcam link-up and Jim’s dad’s funny dance.
This is a tale of teen love and angst with hilarious consequences. The hormones are raging throughout. Although you can see a lot of the plot coming from a mile away, it is still funny when it happens.
So, what would my advice be to the boys? 1. Check what is in the cup before drinking someone else’s drink. 2. Lock your door before attempting masturbation. 3. Attempting sex with bakery goods can be messy (and embarrassing if you are caught). 4. If you want a girl to give you head, be prepared to get on your knees and return the favour. 5. Know the difference between the gents and the ladies.
And finally
6. Under no circumstances broadcast your first attempt at sex on the web.
If you want a good laugh and an easy to watch film, try it out. Don’t expect anything too highbrow or complicated, but accept it for what it is - a funny film with plenty of toilet humour. Disengage your brain before watching – you won’t need it, trust me!
The film also has a great soundtrack, with music from Hole, Third Eye Blind, Simon and Garfunkel and Barenaked Ladies amongst others.
The film is directed by Paul Weitz, has a 15 certificate and at just over 90 minutes long is an hour and a half well spent!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2004 - Comedy - Director: John Hay - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jimi Mistry, Kate Miles, Dougray Scott
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Director: Gareth Carrivick - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Kathryn Drysdale, Sheridan Smith, Natalie Casey, Will Mellor, Ralf Little
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
American Pie IS the definition of teen comedies.
Great OP here, very useful to someone who is unfortunate enough to have not seen the film!
I am looking forward to the third installment in the series later this year.
Belle 02.10.2002 22:00
Hi, great op. Loved the film, and the sequel has managed to be briliant too. Absouloutly fantastic. My favourite character has to be Jim, but Stifler is great too. B x
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