Review of American Reunion (2012) by Ben J — 15 Nov 2013

I don't really understand all the disinterest in this film. If you break down all of these movies, this may actually be the most rounded, straight forward, and relevant to exist one of the bunch.

Pie was 1999 so its relevance existed as a teen summer raunchy sex romp and on that level it worked. Not really a story other than a pact to all have sex, but it was filled with interesting and hilarious characters and exuded a retro 80's High School sex comedy style. So for that it worked and made a lot of money and stars out of most of its young cast. Thomas Ian Nicolas carried the bulk of the protagonist duties as Kevin, Jason Biggs was primarily the comic core, Kris Klein had the bigger love story, and Eddie Kaye Thomas was the most interesting one by a mile. They all had their places and it was well balanced and it worked.

Pie 2 had absolutely one reason to exist.....Money. The movie was terrible and only a shade of the first one. After trying to rewatch this movie I found myself less interested as each scene rolled by. Absolutely NO story here this time around. NONE. And gain, that would have been fine but the big problem here is that the characters we meant and loved n part one just didn't have anything to do. The film changed its ensemble core and decided to really only focus on a couple of the characters. They shoehorned in the obligatory female love interests from the first one simply because some of them had turned into box office draws since then and could be featured on the poster for part 2 even if their rolls are reduced to simply cameos. The story was literally only about Jim (Jason Biggs). All other characters were sidelined.

Wedding was even worse whereas the last one at least tried fooling us that the film was about the old gang. Now even the trailers suggested that Jim's story was what the main focus would be for the duration of these films. And that would be fine, if it were funny. Gone was Oz and about a handful of the other secondary characters this time around. Possibly some of these actors left because they felt that this material was beneath them (which would be admirable but false). Stifler was the worst. This time he's is essentially a caricature of who is character once was. Sean William Scott was becoming quite the hot commodity at the time so it sort of made sense to shoehorn him in his own subplot involving a love interest. But he's just so damn unlikable in this film its sickening. His character simply doesn't work as a focal point of a film. Only as a secondary character. Trying to make him more was just sad. This time around Thomas Ian Nicolas is almost without dialogue all together let alone no story-line of his own what so ever and Eddie Kaye Thomas is an after thought showing up only when Stifler's story calls for it. Total fail as a both a sequel and a film.

So then, granted its been a while, but doesn't Reunion feel more like the ensemble feature that the first one was? To me it completely does. Possibly even more so. This time the film makers actually take their time to give us a glimpse of the updated lives of these characters. And I have to say, its funny. Again there's no plot extending further than the fact that they are back in their home town for the High School reunion. And let's just void the fact the there most likely is no such thing as a 13 year reunion outside of this film. I think the characters are updated, fleshed out, and some even given some redemption after what had happened (or not happened) to their characters in the previous 2 outings. Oz is back (you'll never be happier to see Kris Klien in anything) and is given a story line of what has happened to him and his career since part 2 and Ill admit I think its pretty fascinating and hilarious. Thomas Ian Nicolas even has a story involving his old high school flame and the feelings that come back when you see that person. He's married now so awkwardness ensues. Jim is sort of the main focus but only as much as he was in the 1st one. It just seems that Biggs has that charm and physical comedic timing that helps aid the really funny scenes. The one who may be left out the most is Eddie Kaye Thomas. His story line could have been a little more interesting though the idea of it was a good one him. Then there's Stifler which I believe they brought back down from candy-land and into the real word a bit. He's got a decent amount of screen time but no where near that of Wedding. And it works better for him that way. His scenes are effective and funnier for it.

All in all, cal me crazy, but I feel strongly in saying that I like Reunion the best of the 4. Usually that doesn't happen. The timing, the nostalgia, the more fleshed out characters, and the more realistic tone found me engaged and related to what it is like to no longer be the kids with the future in front of them and always looking backwards. And its really funny. So there's my case for Reunion.