Film Frat -- The Clique for Flicks

Fresh Pie

Reviewed by: Doug Kelker

American Pie I & II

Teen (romantic) comedies are the products of a mechanical Hollywood. Most of them are stale, predictable, and hardly funny. You don't need any specific examples from me, because you've probably already thought of four or five of your own. Most of them start out with some lead male character, who is reasonably handsome (at least to the audience) but still an outcast. The lead male is in love with the prettiest and most popular girl in school. Once the male gets to know the popular girl, he realizes they don't belong together and that he should be with his female friend, who has been loyal the whole time. The American Pie films are much more enjoyable without the forced happy ending.

American Pie, released in summer of 1999, is one of the most honest films directed at a teen audience. It's bawdy but not gratuitous, funny without losing meaning.

Jim, Finch, Oz, and Kevin are best friends who also happen to be virgins. When their tool classmate Chuck Sherman claims to have earned his manhood, the quartet makes a vow to lose their virginity by graduation. The methods that the friends employ to fulfill their vow are amusing. Jim (Jason Biggs) looks for potential "firsts" by joining online dating services. Finch pays a mutual friend to spread rumors about his sexual potency. Oz (Chris Klein), a lacrosse star, joins the school's choir to meet females that don't know his "jock" image. Kevin has to patch up his relationship with Vicky (Tara Reid) before he even has a chance of having sex with her.

The characters make this film great. Jim is goofy and has a knack for embarrassing himself. Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), who eventually goes to the prom with Jim, has no life beyond band camp. Also, she plays the flute in more ways than one. Finch is an intellectual who studies Latin for fun. At school, he plays mini-golf between classes and goes home to use the bathroom. Vicki is concerned about the future of her relationship after graduation. Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) is a foreign-exchange student with a secret fetish. Jim's dad shows a deep understanding of Jim's "sexual debacles" and doesn't lose respect for his son. Stifler (Seann William Scott) is the obnoxious "jock ass" that we all remember loathing. He throws keggers for the opportunity to get girls drunk and in the sack.

Classic scenes from AP:

1) Jim arrives home from school to find a pie on the counter. He sticks his fingers in it and gets an idea. Enter Jim's dad, who sees Jim humping the pie.

2) In another part of the film, Jim agrees to study with Nadia. She has to change her clothes, so Jim sets up his web cam to capture her undressing and sets up a link to allow his friends to watch the action. Jim also emails the link to everyone at his school, unbeknownst to him. Fortunately, Nadia undresses as expected. Jim goes back to his room, certain he has a chance with Nadia. After Jim's ridiculous dancing, Nadia lets Jim touch her. Unfortunately, Jim's rocket takes off before schedule, much to the amusement of his classmates and the audience.

American Pie 2 was released in 2001. Many viewers argue that the sequel is equally as funny as the predecessor. All of the key cast members reprise their roles very well, with some pleasant surprises. Michelle's character has more depth, and Stifler is even funnier than thought possible.

The sequel's action takes place after the friends' first year of college. Oz, Stifler, Finch, Kevin and Jim rent a beach house for the summer. Finch is still infatuated with Stifler's mom. Jim seeks sex advice from Michelle after she bluntly notifies him of his lack of skill in that area. Oz and Heather (Mena Suvari) try to make the best of a long-distance relationship. Kevin has a hard time being "just friends" with Vicky. Stifler ... is still Stifler.

Classic scene from AP 2:

1) Jim, Oz, Kevin, Finch and Stifler work as house painters. Two of their clients are women that live together. Believing they are lesbians, Stifler enters their house to look for verification. Jim and Finch follow Stifler into the house to coax him out. The women, Amber and Danielle, return before the guys leave. Upon finding out their housepainters think they are gay, Amber and Danielle decide to teach them a lesson. They promise to get physical with each other if the boys do the same. I won't tell you what happens next, but the scene ends with Jim and Finch running from the house seconds before Stifler ambles out the front door with his shorts unfastened. Also, watch for a later scene that will teach you the difference between lubrication and glue.

For fun and entertainment, watch these two fresh and sexy films. For help in falling asleep, watch a wannabe teen comedy.

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