American Wedding

8/17/03 - Review

The boys of summer are back for a third time in the teen comedy flick, American Wedding (AKA American Pie 3).  We have followed Jim, the gang, and his dad since 1999’s American Pie, or since high school for the characters.  Now that Jim and Michelle have graduated college, Jim is ready to take the relationship to the next level, marriage.  As per usual, the proposal has its almost undoing in a restaurant, but Michelle gracefully accepts. 

Jim’s friends, Finch and Kevin (Oz is not back in this one, nor are the girls) are happy for their long-time friend and Jim’s dad could not be more ecstatic.  This is something he and his mother have waited their whole lives for.  In order to make this the wedding of Michelle’s dreams, everything has to be perfect which includes keeping Steve Stifler away, but you know he will be there anyway, especially when Michelle’s younger sister, Cadence (January Jones), comes into the picture. 

The wedding plans start to go awry almost as soon as they are conceived.  Michelle’s parents think that Jim is not the man for her, Jim’s Grandmother does not approve of Michelle, and the dress for Michelle is not available.  To top it off, Stifler and Finch compete for Cadence which includes a role reversal for both guys.  Just as one problem gets sorted out, another problem creeps up.  Jim is stressed because he wants the wedding to be perfect but nothing is going right.  Whether its strippers in the house, flying pubic hair, some serious gross out scenes, or just Stifler in general, nothing goes right for Jim.  But if it did, then this would not be an American Pie movie. 

In 1999, we got the gross-out teen comedy American Pie, which became one of the summer’s hottest hits.  In 2001 the producers followed that up with a sequel, which was also successful.  Now, we get the third and final slice of American Pie.  With only half the cast back, how would it compare to the first two? 

American Wedding certainly has its share of hilarious scenes and gross-outs, much like the first two.  Overall the film lags behind the value of the previous films.  I always believed that the story should have ended with Pie, and most certainly even more with Pie 2.  Now I can truly say that the American Pie movies have finally taken their course.  The series ends on a good closing note, the wedding, but did we really need another movie?

There are numerous scenes that will tickle the funny bone, and as with those, there are some gross-out scenes too, which are pretty messed up.  The movie definitely fits in with the others based on these facts.   Some scenes are really flat though, but there are probably only one or two of those.  For the most part, the movie is funny.  At 97 minutes the movie flies.  Nothing is extended or drawn out which is good, except for the gay bar scene where Stifler is dancing.  I felt the story was missing something that could really put it in a league of its own.  Instead of getting that something, we got a bunch of tiny moments that didn’t really add up.  

Like I said before, half the cast has not returned for this movie, which is fine, because the movie mainly follows Jim, his dad, and the one and only Stifler.  The other characters have some decent dialogue, but not enough to really care about them.  Jim’s friend Kevin had about five or six lines in the movie.   Finch was his same old self, except for the times he acted like Stifler.  Yes, Stifler’s mom is in it too.  But mostly the movie concentrates on Stifler, Jim, and his dad.

Stifler is the best character in the series, with Jim’s dad coming in second.  I have always loved the Stifler character.  I find it odd though, that Stifler is even more childish in this movie than the previous ones.  He has even developed an annoying laugh which I can definitely do without.  I also think it is strange that he drives a piece of crap Trans Am when his mom is rich.  It doesn’t add up.  Still, Stifler is the best character and he always will be.   

Jim and his dad shine together but his dad is the main catalyst.  Eugene Levy has really come into his own the past couple years.  With any role I think he can be a really funny guy.  He is perfect for the role of Jim’s dad.  Much like Stifler, the movie focuses on him as the series progresses.  He is even seen giving advice to Michelle the day of the wedding. 

Even though the film has nothing new to offer, I still enjoyed it.  The movie is still American Pie so expect the same stuff, and it’s all good.  A little lacking, but you owe it to the originals to check it out.   

Grade

What do you think?