Review of American Reunion (2012) by Tom L — 25 Jun 2016

The core series of American Pie films (American Pie, American Pie 2, American Wedding, and American Reunion) each help make up one of the greatest comedy franchises of all time. It is not necessarily surprising that the films in this series lack widespread critical praise, but if you really look at what these films do/did, it is also not a surprise that commercial audiences keep on coming back for more.

Yes, they are raunchy/sometimes grossout films, but on deeper analysis, they are so much more. And yes, I did just suggest deeper analysis for these films. Each movie in the core series (I definitely want to stress that I am referring to the CORE series) showcases the life events of several relatable, albeit exaggerated, middle class characters.

We are given the privilege of joining these people through parts of high school, college, marriage, and parenthood/adulthood. This is was truly sets the American Pie core franchise apart from other teen/coming of age movies: the fact that we actually see the characters grow.

Jim Levinstein is the main member of the group that we follow throughout the four films. Seeing him in American Pie and then seeing him again in American Reunion is quite a treat for a lover of great characters.

Obviously, he has grown as a person (as he should have) but it is made believable because you can see how he got to where he is by the time he is having his high school reunion. Though he has grown, he is in many ways that same awkward man who is either in the wrong place at the wrong time, or the unfortunate soul who ends up getting penalized for trying to do the right thing.

Outside of Jim, there are so many characters to observe and fall in love with. What helps to make the comedy with these characters so powerful is how it is sometimes juxtaposed next to believable drama.

Often times, the drama is subtle, but for those who can relate and even for those who can't, the scenes and plot points of weighty themes will likely be bought into. In a lot of ways, I think American Reunion may create some of the best drama of the series, which makes a lot of sense if you think about it.

This is the chapter where our characters, appropriately enough, reunite. But more things have changed from chapters 3 to 4 than they did from 1 to 2 and 2 to 3. Youth was truly embraced in the early films of this series, but by the time we get to this film, we find that many of the characters have moved on, are trying to move on, or can't move on from their glory days.

Some high school sweethearts are still in love while others are out of love, and the way that this is reflected on is kind of beautiful to say the least (*cough cough* Kevin and Vickey). And of course, some characters are more successful than others in varying areas of life.

It's all strangely believable, and will culminate in a mix of emotions that leaves you yearning for years that you lived on the big screen. Growing up is easy for some and rather difficult for other.

Seeing the various ways that people will handle this fact of life is wonderous. My one major gripe with the core films of this series is the fact that I find myself bummed out when the end credits role.

I don't want their stories to end! There is never really a definite, physical bad guy. Instead we find that life itself plays the role of a half hero and half villain, or in many ways, a sort of antihero.

Life never really gets too drab or dark for our characters, for these are all for the most part happy go lucky scenarios, but the right audience will still care about just about every character present.

It truly feels as though the writers for these films genuinely love their characters. Whether its the most awkward father on the planet (Jim's dad) or the most lovable douchebag who ever lived (Stifler), these films are not short on intrigue from the personalties present, and American Reunion is where we get some very satisfying closure.

For example, we get that much wanted acknowledgement regarding Oz's absence in American Wedding, but I digress. Though we did receive this closure, and a fifth core series film would feel very cash-grabby at this point, I would not hesitate to purchase tickets to another outing with this group.

Maybe ten years down the road we can see what it's like for Jim to be the awkward father to a horny teen. I'd watch that.