American Pie 2 **** (2001, Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Chris Klein, Shannon Elizabeth) – Classic Movie Review 943

Another piece of pie, anybody? The entire cast of the 1999 hit American Pie boldly goes into the lunatic fringes of adulthood in a gross (of course) but happily still funny sequel American Pie 2.

After their first year apart at college, the guys – Jim (Jason Biggs), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Oz (Chris Klein), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and Stifler (Seann William Scott) – rent a beach house, vowing to make it the best summer ever. But that’s up to the girls – Vicky (Tara Reid), Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth), Heather (Mena Suvari) and Jessica (Natasha Lyonne).

Through one summer of ear-splitting parties, side-splitting mishaps and a trip to band camp, the gang discovers that time and people change, but friendship can last a lifetime.

This second slice of Pie is cooked from some old ingredients ­- from Beach Party, Porky’s and Animal House, overflowing with teenage boys’ angst of sex, adults, girls. But this time the comedy of fear and embarrassment is mixed with a celebratory tinge, making this a gleefully mucky but also cheerfully happy gross-out frolic.

The homespun innocence behind the smutty gags and the deliciously timed performances make American Pie 2 a tasty treat for teen movie fans. In particular, it celebrates the joy of sex, youth, summer, friendship and traditional Americana like the beach house and the band camp.

In original screenwriter Adam Herz’s well-written character-driven as well as sex-led script, it shows how the group has moved along and evolved in the two years since American Pie.

American Pie 2 was filmed in southern California for 10 weeks. There is strong sexual content, crude humour, strong language and alcohol drinking. For the record, ‘American Pie’ is a registered trademark of singer Don Maclean.

An unrated version is available, running more than six minutes longer than the theatrical version, which is 108 minutes.

The magnificent Jennifer Coolidge appears (uncredited) as Stifler’s Mom (Jeanine).

A total of 20 characters and actors return from the original American Pie: Jim, Oz, Finch, Kevin and the Stifmeister, Jim’s Dad (Eugene Levy) and Mom (Molly Cheek), Jim’s band geek friend Michelle Flaherty (Alyson Hannigan), Kevin’s girlfriend Vicky Lathum (Tara Reid), Jim’s Czechoslovakian girlfriend Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth), and Oz’s girlfriend Heather (Mena Suvari). Back in minor roles are Vicky’s friend Jessica (Natasha Lyonne), Chuck ‘the Sherminator’ Sherman (Chris Owen), Stifler’s little brother Matt (Eli Marienthal), Kevin’s big brother Tom (Casey Affleck), Stifler’s Mom (Jennifer Coolidge ), John (John Cho), Justin (Justin Isfeld), The Monkey Guy (Daniel Spink), and the Monkey.

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© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 943

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