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The dessert-humping teen comedy smash finally arrives on Blu-ray, but would Stifler approve of its high-def merits....?
Universal / 95 Minutes / 1999 / Unrated / Street Date: March 13, 2012
I've repeatedly heard American Pie being referred to as "A Porky's for the 90s," but after now having seen both, Porky's makes American Pie look like Woody Allen! That's not to say that American Pie could be considered an intellectual film that rivals Shakespeare, but it's a damn funny movie that has something real and true to say about the adolescent experience. It also succeeds in often completely throwing the viewer off-guard with a brand of visual comedy that is quite unique and very 90's.
Much of the Porky's comparison stems directly from the plot, one that follows four high school friends and their quest to get laid. While each of them is seemingly of different social backgrounds and popularity, none of them have "done the deed." Oz (Chris Kline) is a star athlete whose transparent attempts at being romantic are immediately detected by the women he targets, while Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) has a girlfriend, but has yet to get to the shuttle launch stage with her. Then there's Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), the most mysterious of the group. His plan, if it could be called that, is to arouse enough curiosity out of the girls at school as to simply arouse! Finally we get to Jim (Jason Biggs), whose total lack of experience eventually drives him to baked goods...
On the female side, Tara Reid is Kevin's girlfriend Vicky, who wants everything to be 100% for that magical first time. Shannon Elizabeth brings considerable assets to the role of the Czechoslovakian exchange hottie, Nadia. And one of my absolute favorite actresses of late, Natasha Lyonne, has some of the movies funniest moments as Jessica, the girl whose got all the answers and influence. Last but not least on my list is Alyson Hannigan, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who is impressive as the band geek Michelle. Not only is she really cute to watch, she has the movie's funniest line, hands down (or flutes up).
One of the joys of watching American Pie for me was how much it brought back the high school experience. I can distinctly remember there being nothing else more important than getting some. That may be a crass assessment of my high school days, but that's how it was. I doubt any other guy would (truthfully) be able to plea to other intentions during those years. However, I also can't remember there being that many virgins by senior year as this film depicts. Maybe it was just the freewheeling, decadent late 80's, but you'd never be able to find four guys at my high school that hung around together without at least one of them at one point having had the opportunity to "double click the mouse."