Just over a year ago, I decided to improve my writing skills and justify my love of film at the same time. I took up the gauntlet and challenged myself to watch new and old films that I wouldn’t necessarily like, both because I think I write better when I’m mad at something and because I genuinely wanted to broaden my film repertoire.
Now I’ve done something I honestly didn’t expect to achieve: I’ve written my 100th post. Sure, not my 100th film related post, but Mainstreamin’ now has 100 awesome articles you can choose from.
Where’s my cookie?
On to the review!
In a strange way, I’m celebrating a milestone by watching a film that achieved its own milestone of sorts. A plucky teenage comedy that was actually pretty funny when it first came out, it spawned several theater sequels and a host of direct-to-DVD cash grabs. In case you haven’t guessed where this is going, I’m talking about the American Pie franchise. Or, more specifically, this week’s new release: American Reunion.
This is an odd fate of sorts, really. Just like our erstwhile characters, I’m also Class of 1999, although our reunion was actually held on its 10th year instead of 13th like in this film. At least they had the good sense to justify the reasoning even if it was a bit weak. The first movie greatly influenced my sense of humor and I loved the shit out of it, but a strange thing happened. Each successive film kept the same humor but I laughed less and less.
Disavowing the direct-to-DVD films, how does American Reunion compare to the other movies? Interestingly enough it’s both a step up and a step down. They actually shot for a slightly more mature brand of humor at certain points in order to appeal to their older viewers who have ‘grown up’ with Stiffler, Oz and the gang, while still trying to bring the juvenile humor that has been the hallmark of the series. This ends up creating a wildly hit-and-miss film. This was evident in my theatergoing experience when two kids who absolutely positively should have been the perfect demographic actually got up and left halfway through the movie.
Even though all the characters are now thirty-something, American Reunion still tries to mix toilet humor and contrived situations to spice up simple conflict. Girl has a crush on you? Instead of just telling your wife what’s up and telling the girl that you appreciate it but would like to pass, why don’t you set yourself up into having to sneak her topless form into her bedroom while your friends distract the parents?
Some kids steal your girlfriend’s bra? Why not let your dangerously unhinged friend shit in their cooler and destroy thousands of dollars’ worth of property? Yeah, that’s a great idea!
I’m not going to name the real actors because you either know them all by now or you don’t. While none of them have exactly blown up in Hollywood, almost everyone from the America Pie franchise is recognizable. What’s unchanged is their place in this fictional universe. Jim and Michelle are now happily married but *gasp* have intimacy issues. Oz is a big-shot TV personality with a hot, crazy, selfish Hollywood girlfriend. (He’s also the plot device for the best running gag in the movie. It seems where he competed in a celebrity dance-off against such famous personalities as Gilbert Gottfried and Antoine Dodson. Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris!) The Stiffmeister never grew up and is desperately trying to act exactly like he did when he was 18. Of course he’s still too thick-headed to realize that nobody likes him because of it.
The only truly likeable person in the whole movie is Jim’s Dad, and his shenanigans are a bit too goofy overall. Fortunately for us, Eugene Levy is an accomplished enough actor and he brings some emotional depth to a character who is still mourning the loss of his wife. That is, until he gets high and drops out of a second-story window.
Let’s see here. Nope, none of the other characters are really worth mentioning but they all have their own problems. The trouble is, these are mostly your typical teen angst problems, which steals any emotional connection we may have with these characters. I can understand a nervous 18-year old stuttering and stumbling when presented with breasts, but to see a 31-year old doing it is just sad. Then again, seeing anyone shit into a cooler is kind of sad.
Basically, the entire movie is the original cast’s adventures while back in town for their reunion. It all culminates in them learning important life lessons that they should have figured out a decade-and-change ago. Even worse, the only time I actually laughed openly was during the throwaway gag at the very end of the film. It was a great gag, sure, but it shouldn’t have taken so damn long to make me laugh my ass off.
Basically, American Reunion tries to amuse every demographic from 15 to 50 and fails to keep anyone’s attention. They honestly would have been better off catering to the teenage crowd, because while I appreciate their attempt at showing the world how everyone is growing up, they failed to make it believable.
If you want to check out a funny coming-of-age film, I recommend Not Another Teen Movie. They spoof parts of American Pie and other, far superior, teen films. Even better, they knew enough to not pump out sequels.
Hopefully my 200th post will coincide with a movie I actually like.
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