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It
was just a matter of time before a sequel to the very successful
American Pie evolved from
the idea/script stage to actually 'getting it made.' Everybody
is back for the sequel, the whole fucking cast I might add!
Wisely enough, the directors of the original chose not to direct
and let James B. Rogers take over (he was the first assistant
director on the original and directed this year's Say
It Isn't So). Adam Herz wrote the sequel and shares
story credit with David H. Steinberg (check out his first, real
screenwriting gig, Slackers!). With that said, let me get
into the aptly-titled American Pie 2.
The
story can be described in less than one sentence. When I think
about it, I doubt that's a good thing. This is the story, not
plot: Summer approaches and the main characters (Jim, Kevin, Oz,
Finch and Stifler) reunite after their first year in college,
having only one thing in mind: chill and party all the way.
After partying at Stifler's has been terminated (sherminated,
haha) by the coppers, the guys have to find an alternate way.
Kevin calls his bro (Casey Affleck) and things are going to work
out. You'll see. In order to make it through the summer, the
guys need cash (obviously). In order to make money, they start
painting (oh so professionally) a house for two women, who you
see are lesbians (try to see through them and you might be
surprised). Meanwhile, the guys hang at a beach house that
Kevin's bro told him about. A new place to hang and party! But
where are the girls? They'll come in handy later for they are
the plot devices that make the sex in the movie work (how
offensive that may be, I do not care).
The
original's opening scene was, as you know, pretty embarrassing,
but funny as hell. Here, the situation and the embarrassment are
slightly more real. Yes, it's also funny (but you've seen it
spoiled in TV ads or the trailer). Nevertheless, American Pie
2 starts off with promise. Then, the story begins. The whole
movie is about spending the summer together, again. I think this
is not enough. Where is the conflict that we had in the
original? Where is the motivation? What is the skinny?
Sadly,
none of the important traits in the original appear in the
sequel. Rather than exploring sex, it exploits sex. "I'm
here for the pussy," says Stifler's brother (he's maybe 13
years old?). The original was about truth and finding out things
about ourselves and others. The sequel brings back the memories
(and characters, duh!) as an excuse to party, show sex and
alcohol, and, of course, to gross out the public (exquisitely
done using the pie in the first, but in the second, well,
nothing really came close to that).
During
the entire movie, the anticipation, excitement and everything
that is worked towards is the huge party at the end of the
summer, where things are supposed to "be all good,
fellas." Anyhow, in terms of the story, Pie 2 is a
complete let-down. Rather than spoiling the jokes for you out
there, I am just going to say, yes, it is a funny movie. It definitely
has its moments (for one, Jim knocking out the little fat kid).
And then there is the gross-out stuff, like Jim and Stifler
kissing, someone playing on a violated trumpet, etc.
I
don't know where Universal thought they are going in terms of
marketing. The tagline, "Get
Ready For Another Slice of the Pie," is false
advertisement. The only time you see a pie is in the opening
scene. It never shows up again. Another tagline, "This
Summer, It's All About Sticking Together," is more
truthful. It's an easy sell. Everybody is looking forward to
this sequel (well, almost everybody). I was. And you can tell I
was disappointed. That's how things go. I liked the comedy in
many ways. The major problem, as with many other movies coming
out nowadays, is the (troubled) story/plot. It's just kind of
sad to see the potential (the original) going down (the sequel).
Surely,
some of you won't side with my opinions. That is common sense.
Everybody has a different taste and sense of humor. Again, the
most important thing that you want in your movie is a good story
that not just entertains for 90 minutes, but a story that makes
you care for the people, the situations, and
you-goddamn-well-know-what-else. Sometimes, scenes will just be
there for the sake of filling time while others are there for
comedy in its purity. One scene, in particular. The "you do
it, we do it" scene with the two girls and the guys. One
aspect of it, which you will come to know as the walkie-talkies,
is not really possible, but I guess it's supposed to add to the
comedy. Frequency-wise, it is impossible. You will find out.
The
characters in Pie 2 are all back! They are still who they
are. They have not really changed all that much. Rather, their
surroundings have. The character I thought really changed was
Finch. Sure, he's still the smartest of the guys, but not only
did his attire change, no, his beliefs did, too. He's a wise guy
now (no, that what you think), referring to Chinese ways of
living. And he's still got the hard-on (I think it's time for
him to move on, for chrissakes) for Stifler's Mom, I mean,
Jeanine. The end will have you roaring with laughter most
likely, but if you think about it, "this is wrong!".
The Graduate subplot worked in the original, but here
it's just too much and gets old (my opinion, mind you).
Jim
is himself. Oz and Heather are together... still. She's leaving
for Europe. Don't ask me why she HAS to! Kevin and Vicky went
their own ways and now are just... friends. Nadia is coming to
visit Jim at the end of the summer. Jim and Michelle hook up
again. At band camp! What a cricket place to be. No, it was fun
to see the place where all those great stories come from. The
Stiffmeister (sp?) is back as well, crude as we remember him.
The Sherminator is back (you'll love his come back towards the
end). The MILF guys are back, yay! Although I wished they
would've said "MILF" one more time! Jessica is back,
too Hooray! But she's kind of a throw-away here. So is Nadia
(you'll see).
American
Pie 2 is just "a funny ride" if you would have to
describe it to someone REALLY FAST. You're going to enjoy it if
you can look past the troubling aspects. So, with everything
said (I'm sure I've forgotten something), I conclude the review.
It's been a fun (and sometimes flawed) 95 minutes. It's going to
make money, no doubt about it. The original was SO MUCH more! I
guess somebody ran out of good ideas (not related to jokes, per
se) HERE! So many possibilities. Maybe not enough time. I'm sure
that Adam Herz didn't rush the original script as fast as the
sequel, for it seemed this way quite a bit. Okay, I will stop
now. Form up your own opinions.
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