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Year:   1999
Studio: Universal Pictures
Movie:  3/5
DVD:    3/5

Teaser

Four teenage boys make a pact to lose their virginity by the end of high school. Jim Levinstein (Jason Biggs) lusts after foreign exchange student Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth). Lacrosse player Chris Ostreicher (Chris Klein) tries his hand in the choir club to nab choir girl Heather (Mena Suvari). Kevin Myers (Thomas Ian Nicholas) is trying to convince his long-time girlfriend Vicky (Tara Reid) to lose her virginity with him. Finally, Paul Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) has a secret plan he cooked up with Jessica (Natasha Lyonne).

Movie

"American Pie" is an R-rated teen comedy. It tries to be true to life which may be true or not, it depends on your high school life. Certainly mine wasn't anything like this. The characters are supposed to be typical high school students -- neither the popular kids nor the losers. The movie is relatively enjoyable and about what you'd expect for what it was when it was made. For some reason it did extremely well in the box office.

Actors

Shannon Elizabeth has a beautiful body and the only neud scene in the movie, but not really much of a role. Alyson Hannigan is a fine actress but I don't understand her appeal. She can be pretty but for her it takes more work. As Michelle, she had a couple of the most memorable lines in the movie. Chris Klein is a stiff-acting pretty boy who is a bit too pretty. I'll stop now because I'm starting to get mean.

DVD

It's a fair DVD. The movie is in wide screen format. The commentary is by Directors Paul and Chris Weitz, Writer Adam Hertz, and Actors Jason Biggs, Sean William Scott (who plays Steve Stifler, the obnoxious BMOC) and Eddie Kaye Thomas. Not a bad commentary. There is a music video for Tonic's "You Wanted More". Some outtakes, the trailer, a 10-minute featurette, and Windows-only DVD-ROM material round out the extras.

Recommendations

It's an average movie with an average cast. Maybe if you're in the target audience (at a guess it's the 15-25 crowd). It's not like you'll regret buying this DVD, but there are better out there.
Copyright (c) 2003 Kevin C. Wong
Page Created: November 30, 2003 Page Last Updated: November 30, 2003