American Pie 2 (J.B. Rogers, 2001)

My brother said by the end of the summer I'll get the big picture. And I see it. No matter what, times change, things are different. But the problem is, I don't want them to be.

Introduction

The American Pie Reunion post got me thinking about the group. In fact, it even prompted me to re-watch all three films and write about them - I've already written about American Pie, so this is next up. I'll admit the temptation to watch the four films released since American Pie: The Wedding did linger a little longer than it should have in my mind but I think the only thing I would want to see is  Eugene Levy's scenes - and I have a funny feeling that he was paid lots for a one-day shooting schedule. I'll turn to YouTube for that methinks. But the second film at any rate was ambitious - 11 characters on the poster and 11 stories that had to be shown - inevitably there was going to be problems, but I remember that personally I was incredibly excited to see it and the fact that everyone was back merely heightened my excitement for it.

Small Fish in a Big Pond

The whole 'next step' mantra that Kev seems to live by is what propels us into this next film. Rather than the four guys tackling small issues and making them into big-dramatic-story-arcs (losing their virginity is hardly a big issue but, as a teenager, it is), now it seems they are tackling much bigger issues that everyone can relate to: Kev still obsessed with an ex-girlfriend, Jim concerned about his sexual-ability and, even Oz and Heather tentatively try and cope with a long-distance relationship.High School is a small place - and their presence seemed big, but now they are at different Universities across the world and when they are apart they are not as strong or as confident. We see characters mature and become much more sensible in their outlooks - and this is a great way to continue the story.

Even Stifler is fleshed out that little bit more. Originally, Chris Penn filmed multiple sequences as Rick Stifler, his Dad, but these were cut out of the film on the grounds that it was a bit too dramatic - they were replaced by Stifler's brother instead. It still stands though that Stifler kicking out two guys from his party as they disrespected his Mother ("she was a Saint!") alongside how his bully-antics are acknowledged on multiple occasions as he is either pee-ed upon or, in the most revealing scene, he comes across as so shallow that he will "kiss every guy and grab every ass" to sleep with the girls that he believes are lesbians. In the first film, Stifler was more of a scene-stealing side-character: he held parties, he mocked the guys and his Mum was hot. In this film, it is clear that Oz and Stifler have become much closer at University and that what makes him such a good friend is that despite all his male-chauvenistic shortcomings, he still pitches in and helps out and he is ultimately after the same thing: lots of fun with friends. Unlike American Pie: The Wedding, this film shows how Stifler is realistically still a part of their group. 

Sex-Obsessed and 'The Next Step'

What is great about American Pie 2 is the change in Jim. American Pie presents Jim as sex-obsessed throughout - the vast majority of situations he found himself in - the pie, the tube-sock, the double-come - all happened as he was simply desperate for sex. In American Pie 2 this is not so much the case - in fact it is merely his clumsiness which is the problem. All the band-camp scenes ("Come on Petey!") are rarely sex-based, just clumsiness whilst the glue-sequence is again just unlucky. His arc changes him from sex-obsessed ("you suck") to sex-comfortable. And that's a big change that I believe most men don't make until much older than Jim's 19-year-old self. Then again, Oz has already made that step and his original plot involving both himself and Heather cheating on each other, though tragic and lacking comedy, would be the 'next step' in relationship challenges. Instead, I think Oz becomes a character who is a rock - he stands by his girlfriend and celebrates the fact that he has found 'the one'. Stifler is constantly mocking him for it but it is realistic to assume that Oz's comfortable and confident attitude towards sex and relationships (which is equally reflected at the end of American Pie as he doesn't even want to discuss his private sex-life) inevitably influences his friends  -and namely Jim.

The Creator of the Pact

The creator of the pact in American Pie, Kev, is the friend who 'comes up' with the beach-house plan (again, a great Casey Affleck cameo in there too). But, much like the first film, Kev's pro-active nature is what, by the end, we are expected to disagree with. If you remember in American Pie, what makes the film interesting (and makes the spin-offs less so) is how, despite all four guys making a pact to all have sex - and indeed, they all do - the moral of the story is that it doesn't matter. Kev sitting on the steps ready to go home because of the pressure he put on others and how unfair it may be to Vicky. In American Pie 2, again, Kev goes off in a sulk. This time ending up on the beach (originally, he went back to the school but the location jarred with the sequences on either side so it was re-shot) and he reveals that the reason he organised the trip was to re-claim old times ... but in fact, he needs to move on. It seems strange that the attraction to the films and the entire set-up is always belittled whilst we, as viewers, get to enjoy watching the films on the basis that the idea of four-guys-trying-to-get-laid and our favorite characters all together on the beach is actually what is interesting. At least in American Pie: The Wedding it didn't end with Kev going off in a sulk and everyone agreeing that weddings are unnecessary.

Unfortunately when the four guys have the conversation on the beach, despite interesting points being raised - nothing is really answered. It is a simple case of "I have a feeling things are going to get better" and they go back to the party.

Good Effort

I think that Adam Herz worked so hard on this script and put his heart and soul into a huge amount of plots that ultimately got cut. They even got filmed too. I think with a blu-ray release being inevitable, they need to put all the Stifler's-Dad and Heather-and-Oz plots back in just for shits a giggles. Keep the normal version of the film - the theatrical and the 'uncut' version - but a three-hour epic version would be an incredible watch. Bottom-line is that the film is a just a little too busy and it plays a little bit weaker than the first film - but I still laugh heartily to the trumpet-ass joke, "c'mon Petey!" and Nadia getting excited about The Sherminator. I think a few problems also lie in the very limited perspective on homosexuality - as if lesbians are only alive for sex-jokes. I think they realized this and dealt with this in the next film ...

American Pie (Chris Weitz, 1999)

Still, for Mostly Unsure

*This was originally published on 6th May 2010 but I have edited it a little and written new posts for American Pie 2 and American Pie: The Wedding to follow this week so let's start from the first piece...

"Well, they're safer than a tube sock..."

Introduction

I am going through a phase of weeding out the unneccessary DVD's in my collection. In my opinion, everyone has a DVD pile at their house its not about how many DVD's you own - its what you own (this sentiment eventually led to the A-Z posts). If you only have a stash of the free DVDs that came with the newspaper or have too many teenage rom-coms, your film-knowledge credability takes a little blow. As a film fan, your film collection represents you. What you stand for - what you aim to understand, etc.

Fact is, with American Pie I can vividly remember wanting to watch it. I remember first watching it post-house party - a house party Mum and Dad shouldn't have known about, but the did find out about it because of so many kitchen appliances being broken. My best friend - and fellow blogger Pete, you must remember this party. Legendary.

It was the early days of the DVD and, as one of the first ten or twenty I owned, I watched and rewatched it many times (certain sequences many, many times ... but thats private and, as a teenager at the time, its allowed). But now, I look at my 'threesome' boxset and have to decide. Should it stay or should it go? I have never watched anything further than the third American Pie movie - American Pie: The Wedding. So, do I wait until I care enough to be a completist and watch the others (will I really watch them?) or, even await, the potential 2012 film: reuniting the original cast for American Pie 4?

Jim and his sock

The film primarily follows one character - Jim. Yes, we know all about his buddies, but we care about Jim. Nevertheless, it is fair to say that from a casting point of view we do have an ensemble cast all with the same 'goal'. Akin to 'Porkys' they plan to lose their virginity. The thing about American Pie for me and my buddies is that we all associated ourselves with the different characters. The sports-like dude, the clever-but-clearly-a-geek dude, the friend-who-has-a-steady-girlfriend and then the middle-of-the-road-one with weird parents. I would assume I was that one with weird parents. Not to mention the parties we went to were not too unlike Stiflers ... but with less sex. For me. Chances are that at these parties, behind the dark corners, dark deeds took place ... which began in the rumour mill Monday morning in college.

The structure of the film is interesting as all the character have an anti-climax two-thirds into the film. So Finch's plan to build a reputation fails when he shits in a girls toilet, Jim loses Nadia by breaking some type of surveillance law. I'm sure, if you did what Jim did yourself you wouldn't be praised by anyone - you'd be simply called a perv. Kevin finds the bible but blows his chances of nookie by shouting a little too loud (in honesty, he rectifies this pretty quick...) and then the La Crosse fella played by Chris Klein, Oz, loses his girl when he appears to be mocking her (well, Stifler was mocking her, La Crosse man was merely a bystander).

A Moral Compass

Obviously, a film like this needs a moral compass. The characters have to have some sex but they can only do this by changing their attitude to it. Jim gets sick of the bet - happy to settle for minx-in-disguise Alyson Hannigan ("This one time at band camp..."). Kevin and Vicky (Tara Reid), on their separate struggle to have sex 'for love'. Then they split up. Oz bails on his sporting skills to be in the choir and revealing his passion may actually be singing and he, turns out, is 'actually' in love. And - very brave for a first time I think - he loses his virginity outside in what appears to be a very public cabin. Lastly, what appears to be quite a strange occurence is Finch and Stiflers Mom. Finch's moral compass doesn't really change... he is just abused.

Fact is, for a teenager...

The film is quite explicit - in a comedic manner and in a jovial tone, but there is plenty of nudity and conversations about 'stuff' many people would find quite offensive. The film discusses sex positions and the nature of sperm (seen sitting in a beer). Its obviously all in jest - all merely comedy - but it surely informs teenagers. I know when I was a teenager, I didn't know too much so the information about positions and stuff did help me understand a little more. In a more interesting way, deeper issues of desperation and pressure is also raised. The idea that Jim's completely embarressing situation 'came too soon' and, again, shows that this small faux-pars in your teenage years aren't such a big deal. Even the involvement of your parents in your personal life - these are all relatable and make light of a time in a teenagers life that can be incredible awkward. It even showed the pain of sex during the first time as Vicky and Kev do the deed. Yes, this is balanced out by the nympho Jim has to deal with and we don't see Oz and Heather, but for anyone who is worried a little about these situations, the actual reveal of a certain element of truth should put them at ease.

I do love the film, but I am in two minds. I have grown out of these films, but I watched it so many times and I adore the characters. It even informed my music taste - introducing me to Bic Runga and her beautiful song 'Sway' and it made me take Blink 182 a little seriously (not much, just one song: Mutt). I think the important role the film - and the two sequels - played in my life is something I will cherish, and is the reason I am keen to re-watch all these films. There are problems ("Do you know Chris Finch?" to a classmate they have studied with for a whole year!) but I think it is a much better film than the average teenage-comedy and it has great heart. Not to mention Eugene Levy scene-stealing every single sequence he is involved in.

Wait a sec' - its eleven years old! F*** me. I am old.

Tomorrow, we continue with American Pie 2 ... 

The 'American Pie' Clan - Back Together!

I related to the geek who wanted to score in 1999. I knew the guy, who had the girl, and they had clearly - but tentatively - explored what sex is. I envied the football-pro without really knowing his trials and tribulations regarding sex and I had a friend who wore a parka jacket in imitation of the Mods of the 70's (I assume Finch, if he was English, would probably do the same).

I watched American Pie  after a house-party my Mum and Dad knew nothing about with many friends. I watched American Pie 2 at the cinema when I was starting my A-Levels whilst I watched American Pie: The Wedding at University. I was never going to regress back to the teenage years with the spin-off films: The Naked Mile, Beta House, The Book of Love and Band Camp. Though I won't lie - I am semi-interested in seeing the inevitable cameos of characters from the original three. I hear Sherman (The 'Sherminator'!) makes an appearance and Jim's Dad pops up for the odd scene...

All those people I knew all look different but it is quite strange seeing these inspirational figures now - 12 years later. Tara Reid is [ridiculously] on the Big Brother show in England at the moment. The characters look like they have been in Hollywood. I think only Jason Biggs seems same ol' Jason Biggs.

I will be watching this in 2012, at the cinema, as if going to see some old friends. And I look forward to it. I don't know if the cast are happy about returning to the well for one last bucket - but I think we all knew when we saw that youtube video of Chris Klein (it, funnily enough, has been deleted off youtube... best get rid of bad publicity...), the American Reunion was inevitable...