Review of American Reunion (2012) by Joseph C — 15 Jan 2014

I admit, I recorded this on DVR and watched it mostly to pass time. Expectations were low and I knew what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found.

Maybe you just have to be at the right age or mindset to enjoy this movie. It's still fairly juvenile, but seemed colored slightly with a more mature perspective. Not much, granted, but enough to give it the flavor it needs to succeed.

The series returns with the original cast in full force, and seems to be fully aware of its middle age. It takes a long step away from the teenage attitude of its many DVD releases and brings back the classic well executed American Pie humor with just a bit of jaded maturity. A few of the jokes and gags caught me by surprise with how funny they actually were.

Is this a good movie? Probably not. Particularly if considered as a standalone from the series. The plot is less than stellar, nudity abounds and it's all still somewhat juvenile. But, as a bit of final topping it hits home nicely. It seems to know its audience perfectly and rather than trying to be something it isn't, it sticks to what it knows (while adapting and changing, growing rather than stagnating) and for that it earns my respect and enjoyment.