American Wedding

The original American Pie revolutionized the teen movie. Taking it from sappy love stories like She's All That and changing them into your present day American Pie movies and others like Road Trip and Eurotrip. Following the success of American Pie and American Pie 2, Adam Herz is back with what is slated to be the end of the series completing the trilogy with American Wedding. The "American Pie Gang" for the most part returns, for the most part being the few exceptions that did not show up. Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs) and Michelle Flaherty (Alyson Hannigan) set the story in motion when they decide to get married. Steve Stifler (Sean William Scott) returns with the classic Stifler character and is pretty much the main character. A lot of the movie has Stifler in it, and all the memorable moments involve Stifler as well. Also returning is Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), Jim's Dad (Eugene Levy), and Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas). Introducing Cadence (January Jones), Michelle's sister, who is definitely a welcome additions to the gang. Missing from the "gang" is Vicky (Tara Reid), Oz (Chris Klein), and Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth). Of course with a Wedding, comes a Bachelor Party, Dress shopping, Bridesmaids and of course, ensuing hilarity. The question going into American Pie 3 is would it live up to American Pie 2 which was one of the few sequels that out did the original. American Wedding definitely holds it own and gives a film worthy of the American Pie trademark.

One of the main improvements through the American Pie series has been the acting. American Pie even in all its greatness did not have a known actor in it aside from Eugene Levy. Each of the actors either had very little acting experience or none at all. And with young actors with little experience comes debatable acting. American Pie gave a good amount of laughs mainly on the fact that they couldn’t act. But unlike American Pie, American Wedding doesn’t have young actors, all the actors with the exception of January Jones have been in a good amount of movies and television shows which in turn gave them a little more experience and improved their acting. The acting difference between American Pie and American Wedding is like night and day. Each actor mastered their character and pulls off everything. Sean William Scott has become the most known actor of the American Pie gang; he has the most scenes and the biggest part. And he pulls the character of Stifler off very well. Shannon Elizabeth is no where to be found, they had to bring in another hot character. That they did, January Jones is a great addition to the cast. The story is entertaining as well. I mean it isn’t as basic as a bunch of kids trying to get laid like American Pie and it isn’t a complex philosophical and psychologically deep story but it is what it is. A story of two people getting married with various predicaments encountered on the way with a twist only American Pie can provide. The story offers many, many memorable scenes ranging from the ingestion of excrement, a bachelor party gone horribly wrong, and an awkward dance scene. The Bachelor Scene definitely falls under the good section. Without sounding perverted, a trademark of the American Pie series seems to be the nudity. Even Herz (Director) says it. American Pie had a great scene with Shannon Elizabeth, and American Pie 2 had a rather poor scene in which you see Sean Williams Scott and Jason Biggs kiss while only seeing a little bit of the females, but American Wedding does not fail in that category. American Wedding certainly redeems itself in the nudity department with a Bachelor party which includes a prissy maid and Nikki Ziering as a dirty cop and a lot of awkwardness which is hilarious. Plus the girls are rather good looking. You know, comedy and nudity is always a good thing. Overall the whole movie can be categorized as good.

Even though there aren't any glaring poor spots in the movie. I am forced to come up with some. One of the flaws character wise is where they change the direction of the character, Stifler, towards the end of the movie. Sean Williams Scott masters the acting but the character of Stifler towards the end of the movie has a change of heart and doesn't act very Stifler like. The trademark of the Stifler character is the profanity with dicks and fart jokes. The change works well for the movie but takes away something from the Stifler mystique. The only real downfall in American Wedding is the absence of Tara Reid, Chris Klein, and Shannon Elizabeth. According to rumor they weren't asked to return for monetary reasons. But their absence isn't very realistic. I mean it is Jim's wedding and a main part of his life was his High School friends. While they didn't need a big part they should have been in the film at least a little bit, just for realism. There isn't even an explanation for them not being there. They just aren't invited I guess. If Stifler, someone they supposedly hate makes it to the wedding, shouldn't their friends be there too? Just doesn't seem right to me. Plus being able to look at Tara Reid and Shannon Elizabeth would have been a positive. But all this female talk I'm beginning to sound like a pervert. Another thing that I can consider a negative is that it completes the trilogy making another American Pie movie not likely going to happen. And that's not a good thing. Every American Pie movie is great. And who wouldn't want to see another? I mean one could say it could get old, but every time they seem to come up with more and more stuff to make the movie enjoyable. I'm sure they could have made a couple more, but they pretty much sealed the deal on another movie, unless of course they go for something like Jim and Michelle having a baby. Could be interesting but wouldn't have the American Pie feel to it.

The Bonus Features include Deleted and Extended Scenes, Enter the Dominatrix: Inside the Bachelor Party, Grooming the Groom, Stifler Speak, and a Cheesy Wedding Video. The bonus features are very enjoyable. The deleted scenes, outtakes, extended scenes were good with feature commentary and explanation from Adam Herz explaining why they didn't make the cut and stuff. Enter the Dominatrix gives an insight to the Bachelor Party and shows a lot of what didn't make it in the final cut such as Stifler's experience with a blow up doll, some more nudity, and hilarious dialogue. Grooming the Groom shows a little into the scene where Jason Biggs shaves ... himself and how they obtained the "pubic hairs" and the shooting of the scene. Stifler Speak is a piece where they go into depth about the speech of Stifler and show all his alternate lines on the film. Every part of the Bonus Features is good, nothing is left to imagine. You will even be left knowing more than you wanted to know, all very good stuff.

All in all this movie and DVD are very, very good. It adds to the American Pie mystique and legacy by providing more follies and laughs. There is very little bad to say about the movie as a whole. Everything gets a deserved high score. Even special effects, seeing pubes fly like that took a nice amount of work. It may not be razzle dazzle but it uses good effects.

Story : 8/10
Cast : 10/10
Sound : 9/10
Special Effects : 9/10
Bonus : 10/10