American Pie is a film franchise that every millennial will know about, it was one of those films that solidified their teenage years after all. These films were not only influential, but they were controversial to a fault.
They featured large casts, lots of characters, and incredibly funny situations that these characters got themselves into. However, no one really mentions the fact that they weren’t very good, in fact, they were some of the weakest comedy films out there.
The only reason why American Pie films became so successful is because they were raunchy in an era where raunchiness wasn’t found too much in comedy.
How to Download American Pie
You can download the film from a digital store. You can also stream it. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. If you’re looking for more entertaining comedies, check out also Pineapple Express (2008) or Dumb and Dumber (1994).
The Movie Review
This is a film about losers, a group of high school friends, Jim, Kevin, Oz, Stifler, and Finch, who make a pact to lose their virginity before their graduation.
Jim is struggling with his sexual desires and his fear of being inexperienced. He enlists the help of his friends, including the crude and obnoxious Steve Stifler, to help him lose his virginity.
Meanwhile, Kevin is dealing with the end of his long-term relationship with his girlfriend and struggling to move on. Oz, a jock, is trying to balance his popularity with his desire to connect emotionally with women.
And Finch, the nerd, is trying to improve his social status.
As the group prepares for their senior prom, they all face various challenges and setbacks in their quest to lose their virginity.
While this concept may have been fresh and new at the time of the film’s release, it has since become an overly used trope in the teen comedy genre.
The film attempts to explore the struggles of self-esteem, insecurities, and fear that teenagers go through, but the execution of these themes falls short quite aggressively.
They are almost always overshadowed by the film’s crude humor and gross-out gags, and I’d like to think it would have been better if the film just focused on the humor and gags, instead of trying to shoehorn messages that no one really notices.
Of course, there are a decent number of witty lines and clever jokes scattered throughout the film, but unfortunately, the dialogue quality is quite inconsistent overall.
There will be some lines that feel natural, while most others will seem forced. At times it’s well written, but then at times, it seems like the film was written by a group of toddlers who just found out what a sex comedy is.
When the gags land well, they will have you in stitches. However, most of the time they just fall flat, flatter than a pancake. The film is famous for the shocking humor it has, but some of these moments feel so overly forced that they lose all value.
The Characters
The cast of American Pie is undoubtedly talented, with some notable performances from Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, and Alyson Hannigan.
Biggs delivers a convincing performance as the awkward and sexually frustrated Jim Levenstein, bringing a relatable vulnerability to the character. Klein’s portrayal of Chris “Oz” Ostreicher is also noteworthy, as he balances the character’s jock persona with a surprising depth of emotion.
Hannigan’s portrayal of Michelle Flaherty, the eccentric and sexually adventurous band geek, is also impressive. Her quirky mannerisms and deadpan delivery add a unique charm to the film, making her a fan favorite. Honestly, more could have come out of these performances if the script wasn’t so bad.
The Visuals
The visuals, camera work, and cinematography of American Pie are like plain oatmeal. The film’s focus is primarily on comedy and the shock factor, with little attention paid to the technical aspects of filmmaking.
It’s like the filmmakers thought, “Who needs fancy camera angles when we can have a guy drink something extremely gross?”
The Music
The music and soundtrack, on the other hand, are much better. They came up with some catchy tunes that transport the audience back to the late ’90s. The soundtrack has the power to evoke strong feelings of nostalgia, but they don’t particularly add to the film in any way.
Verdict
While once a fresh take on teen comedy, now falls short of greatness due to its overused tropes and overshadowing of relatable characters and themes with crude humor and gross-out gags. Despite notable performances from Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, and Alyson Hannigan, the lackluster visuals and inconsistent dialogue fail to elevate the film.
While American Pie may be entertaining at times, it falls short of being a good film in almost every way. Though honestly, it’ll still make you laugh if you like this sort of stuff, so I would suggest giving it a watch, just for the late ‘90s nostalgia alone.
