Film Review: American Pie Reunion

Director: Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberger

This is technically the eighth instalment in the franchise but really it is only the fourth as nobody counts the direct to DVD nonsense they have released in the 9 years since American Pie: The Wedding. It was a bit of a gamble bringing the old cast back together after such a long time away especially considering Chris Klein who played Oz didn't even appear in the third film but fortunately most of the actors/actresses have done nothing much of note since.

With such a big gap between the first three and this latest instalment I was doubtful how relevant it would still be and whether the jokes would still be as funny, I was left in no doubt that they were using the same jokes from 15 years previous. I couldn't decide whether the jokes just weren't funny anymore or whether I had outgrown them considering I was a teenager when the original film came out. It is humour of a very low level which is something Sean William Scott (Stifler) has made his career out of. Some of the jokes do make you laugh but a lot more of them fail to raise a laugh or even produce an embarrassing cringe.

The guys back together at the reunion

Thirteen years after graduating from high school, the guys all come back into town for the high school reunion. Despite all having proper jobs and families elsewhere they run into old flames like Heather (Mena Suvari) and Vicky (Tara Reid) making it awkward. Stifler also finds them at the local bar enjoying a drink which starts the ensuing chaos akin to when they were in high school except they are all about 30 now. They all begin to have relationship problems as there drinking and partying takes hold before they even get to the reunion.

Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan are still very good at playing their characters with the same vigour and feeling as all those years ago, Sean William Scott is also on form if you can call it that but considering he only ever plays one role in a film it's probably not difficult for him. Thomas Ian Nicholas who plays Kevin reminds me of Doug (Justin Bartha) from The Hangover as an annoying character who you are glad isn't in the movie a whole lot. Eugene Levy is his usual self as Jim's embarrassing Dad and is probably used just enough so that he isn't tiresome.

The infamous sock

1.5/4 same jokes from 15 years ago that just aren't funny anymore and adds nothing to the others

PS For people wondering, the original script confirms that Stifler's nickname for Finch is shitbreak not shitbrick.