One would think that the folks behind the American Pie franchise would be content to rest on their laurels and wedge Eugene Levy and his eyebrows into as many direct-to-Redbox sequel/spin-offs as possible before Levy expires from this mortal coil.
Clearly that modest cash cow is not enough for Universal because they’ve rescued as much of the original cast from oblivion as possible to reunite for the desperate and contrived, American Reunion, a sequel that probably should have been abandoned to the same abyss as Chris Klein’s career.
Reunion brings the gang from East Falls High back to Michigan for their 13-year reunion. Of course everybody is older, rounder, and dissatisfied with their sex lives. Erstwhile lead, Jim Levinstein (Jason Biggs, the lost Savage brother) is dealing with the loss of the sexy times spark in his marriage to former band geek, Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) after the birth of their 2-year old. Meanwhile, sensitive oral transaction expert Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) faces the trials of domestication as a unfulfilled house husband while ex-lacrosse jock Oz (Chris Klein) struggles with fading obscurity as a washed-up athlete and “analyst” on some knock off ESPN 8 network. With most of the gang adjusting to adulthood,Stifler (Seann William Scott) and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) the respective masters of chaos and order of the American Pie-verse, have failed to launch, both landing back at home and living up to their high school reps and nothing more. Stifler in particular seems to be reaping the karma of his years as an unrepentant bully in his position as a temp to Vik Sahay’s diminutive bossman. Seeking a respite from the malaise of adulthood, the boys reconvene a few days before the reunion to engage in the same degree of knuckleheaded debauchery that led them to their current misery, all while running afoul of most of the cast of the original American Pie as well as a new generation of horndogs.
Co-directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg of Harold & Kumar fame nail the post-Porky’s tone of the American Pie franchise perfectly, complete with awkward attempts to wedge a hint of character development into the overwhelming silliness. The problem is this tone is antiquated in the wake of the films borne in the wake of the original Pie. There’s no way the hijinks of the East Falls boys can match the insanity of the one scene of the Hangover, and the characters aren’t honest and developed enough to measure against some of the best characters that highlight of any of Judd Apatow’s films or more recent hits like Bridesmaids. Thus, the axiom that “the first is the best” isn’t quite apt here. The Pie series may have helped reignite the trend of the R-rated comedy, but it has been left behind by far better raunchy comedies with solid narrative thrusts. The lack of a driving narrative cripples Reunion, as the best it can offer is a trite sitcom-esque plot hovering around thematic lamentations for joys of high school and the vague desire for an active sex life among bored, well-off young adults.
Being led by a cast of has-beens and never-weres doesn’t do much to improve the Reunion’s quality. While some of the cast have improved their craft and gone on to do some reputable work--no, we’re not looking at you Tara Reid--Reunion gives them very little to work with. Biggs’ Jim is the same awkward dork he was in the first Pie, just as Scott’s Stifler is the same dickish imp and Thomas’ Finch is the exact effete connoisseur of coitus he was thirteen years ago. The sheer lack of character development does a disservice to even the worst actors because there’s nothing to play aside from hitting a series of 13-year old beats. Even the female cast are underserved, with solid talent like Alyson Hannigan reduced to playing a variation on Willow that was stretched thin nine year ago.
All things considered, Reunion isn’t pure garbage, and, admittedly, has a few chuckle-worthy moments, but the comedy is never sustained to a degree that matches the kitchen-sink ethos of today’s more popular R-rated comedies. Sadly, Hurwitz, Schlossberg, and the cast do next to nothing to make these characters and this story any more than it was 13 years ago: a fairly bland raunch-fest about a bunch of whiny, goofy tools who are nowhere near cool enough to get laid.
The Yin and the Yang of it -
Yin: Tired revisit with negligible narrative thrust, character development, or comedy. Most of the "knocking on D-list" cast is saddled with characters who haven’t grown or become funny in 13 years.
Yang: A few chuckles to be had in the early goings and some faint attempts at making one or two characters resemble human beings stem some of the bleeding in this trite mess.
In-Between: Kids, don’t ever open your parents closed bedroom door without knocking.
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