American Reunion Review

                        American Reunion is a film that looks back at the American Pie films. Let me take that back...it looks back at the actual American Pie films. Now-let me preface this review by saying I really liked American Reunion. Maybe it's because I have a soft spot for the American Pie cast. Maybe it's because Eugene Levy is hilarious. Maybe it's just because I really liked it. It's actually all of those.

                       The film is not only funny, but touching in its delivery. Writers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, who previously did the screenplays for all three (and hilarious) Harold and Kumar movies puts in their own brand of humor while keeping the American Pie spirit. There is a particularly hilarious scene involving Stifler and a couple of jet skis. Unlike in the previous films, Jim (Jason Biggs) is the straight man. He does get into a few wacky situations, but he's surrounded by all the even more crazy people. I liked the whole cast, in fact. I especially liked newcomers Ali Korbin as Kara and Dania Ramirez as Selena. Kara is a girl who Jim used to babysit who has turned into a young woman who is strangely attractive to Jim. Selena is the old girl from band camp who is now also a young woman, this one being attractive to Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas).

                      However, Eugene Levy as Jim's Dad, who has no name as in the previous films, steals the film. He is so caring and nice and understanding to everything that happens around him that it's hilarious. I enjoyed seeing these charming  characters back. However, American Reunion, while being pretty funny and sweet, could have been better. It's a fun film...but it's one that doesn't live up to its potential. I say see it at a matinee.
(3 and 1/2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, nudity, language, brief drug use, and teen drinking)