American Pie: Reunion

• Rob Carnevale
• 4 May 2012

The cast regroup for a fourth time, and still manage to raise some laughs

The cast of American Pie may have matured since we last saw them nine years ago at Jim and Michelle’s wedding but their antics remain juvenile for this latest slice of raunchy comedy - and for the most part that’s a good thing.

Written and co-directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (of Harold and Kumar fame) American Pie: Reunion is a fun nostalgia trip that retains the integrity of the original trio of movies by placing equal importance on heart as well as other body regions.

The story finds the group reuniting for their 13-year get together and contemplating some familiar problems concerning love and sex. For Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) it’s a lack of spark in the bedroom, while for Stifler (Seann William Scott) it’s an inability to grow up. Oz (Chris Klein), meanwhile, is now a frustrated sports presenter and Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) a trapped house husband, leaving only Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) as the satisfied one, having been off travelling the world.

The ensuing reunion affords plenty of awkward scenarios and gross out comedy en route to the inevitable life lessons and happy endings. But while some of the plot beats feel laboured and uninteresting, the goodwill generated by the performers continues to serve the film well and Hurwitz and Schlossberg also have a lot of fun dropping in the cameos from past favourites (from the Sherminator to the Milf Guys) while playing around with the dynamic between Jim’s dad (Eugene Levy back on scene-stealing form) and Stifler’s mum (Jennifer Coolidge).

While it offers little that’s revelatory (save for Jim’s exposed manhood!) American Pie: Reunion is a consistently enjoyable and often laugh-out-loud crowd-pleaser.