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 Director
:Paul Weitz
Starring
: Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Ian Nicholas,
Tara Reid, Menu Suvari, Alison Hannigan & Eugene Levy
Picture
1.85:1 Anamorphic, DD 5.1, Dual-Layer, Keep Case
Running
Time : 96 mins
The
story:
This
Summer It's All About Sticking Together
After
their first year at college, the guys reunite for another
summer of fun. Jim (Jason Biggs) continues his quest for
sexual independence by seeking the help of his old prom
date, Michele (Alison Hannigan), after an unexpected call
from Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) who plans to visit Jim. Meanwhile,
Kev and Vicky (Tara Reid) find themselves in an awkward
situation after having broken up for a year. Oz (Chris Klein)
must deal with a long distance relationship when Heather
(Mena Suvari) heads off to France to study abroad. Old feuds
die hard as the ever-so-horny Stifler harbors his hatred
toward Finch, who is practicing the Japanese art of Tantra.
The
summary:
This
sequel proves for the most part to have the all important
ingredients to bake a successful follow up. Firstly the
entire cast are reassembled, which is quite impressive,
since some of them have now gone on to bigger and better
things. Secondly it uses the tried and tested formula of
ripping off the most successful moments from its predecessor,
whilst changing them slightly, to give us more of what we
want. Overall it does all this very well, but sadly it just
does not live up to the success of the first American Pie.
The idea behind the film is fairly solid. The all American
hero's from the first film have now completed their first
year at college and all come home to regroup for their first
summer vacation. They decide to rent a beach house in order
to fully live out what may become the last summer that they
all spend together before their lives become too complicated
with other things. On the face of it that sounds totally
similar to the "End of high School and Prom night"
deadline of the first movie. Unexpectedly though the plot
actually lacks the frenzy and goals (to lose their virginity)
of the first film. It loses pace and feels quite awkward
towards the middle as you realise that sometimes the plot
does not really know where it wants to go.
Despite
these misgivings it does reacquaint us with the wonderfully
stereotypical face of American youth that is Stifler and
his character has many of the best lines and funny moments.
Other highlights of the cast are very much Eugene Levy as
Jims Dad and Alyson Hannigan as the geeky Band Camp obsessed
Michelle. One character that really does not come off well
is Oz, who spends the whole film pining and never once even
seems to contribute to the films story or mood. The comedy
never feels very fresh and always copies (sometimes better,
sometimes not) the first for its gross out gags and sexual
innuendoes. It does keep you smiling though .Whilst this
will never capture the "doing for teen comedies, what
Scream did for teen horrors" mantle of the first film
it does become a very complimentary exercise. If you enjoyed
the resurgence of Porkys style humour that American Pie
brought back then you will enjoy this movie. Just don't
expect too much and you will not feel cheated.
The
DVD is another solid release from Universal and again compliments
exactly the extra's contained on the first movie - In fact
we have even used some of the same descriptions ! The sound
and picture are both of a very high standard for a comedy.
This region 2 release is available on its own or with the
first film as a very well priced box set edition that would
be a good investment for anyones collection.
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