Adam Herz – Tripping Through Gateways

American Wedding focuses heavily on the next step for Jim and Michelle, which was a wise move. It’s secondary focus is on Stifler, which dominates the beginning of the film. That is a very rough start.

The scenes with Jim and Michelle work well. They are likable characters. And to play Michelle’s parents, they got the terrific Fred Willard and Deborah Rush. The early scenes where “Stifler Ruins Everything” are tiring. But, somehow, they start to transform Stifler. Oh, sure, he is a douche, but they really play up just how badly he wants to be liked. This results in the homophobic character trying to prove to the patrons of a gay bar that they totally want him. The dance off he starts is actually quite amusing.

Again, a lot of the heart is from Jim’s dad. There is a genuinely heartwarming moment where Michelle is feeling uncertain, and she seeks the advice of Jim’s Dad. When she mentions Jim told her he is the person he trusts most for life advice, Levy’s face lights up, like he always wished this was true, but never believed it.

This installment is notable as Shannon Elizabeth, Mena Suvari, Natasha Lyonne and Tara Reid are completely absent. I suspect they had no idea how to fit them into the tale.

There are gross out jokes, embarrassing moments with Strippers at the bachelor party (Aspects of this scene work well, as everyone tries to cover up, when Jim unexpectedly brings Michelle’s parents back to the house). Despite a rocky start, American Wedding is a surprise, and one of the best of the franchise.

The first film was a big enough hit that we got a sequel. This time there is no pact, the guys are back from their first year of college and get a summer house so they can party hard. Pretty much all the girls are gone. They make appearances, but they are brief. So it is focused on the boys. Kevin is feeling apprehensive that Vicky is off having lots of sex, even though he is not her boyfriend…but he is concerned because he has not had much sex since the first film. Oz is bummed by his long distance relationship with Heather. Finch continues to be obsessed with Stifler’s Mom.

Jim is hoping to have sex with Nadia who is coming to visit him, and seeks the help of Michelle. This is the real heart of the movie. Michelle grows as a character who is sweet but blunt. These scenes work the best. But other than this, women exist only as fantasy in the film. They are there to entertain men. And the portrayal of some of the women suggests the writers do not know any.

Seriously, if a couple women in their underwear discovers a bunch of guys hiding in their bedroom, do you really believe their response would be “Let’s play a “sexy” game?) No, I think it is safe to say they would be running to get help. On the other hand, I totally believe the gag where Jim accidentally super-glues his hand to…himself. That a guy might be that stupid is plausible to me. That scene also allows for a Patented “Jim’s Dad Speech”. Dad tries to defend his son, but admittedly makes it a bit worse.

But overall, this sequel is a bust. Only the Jim/Michelle story works or is sympathetic, it is hard to care at all about the other characters.

American Pie was a movie released promising to bring back the spirit of films Like Porky’s, Hot Dog, Ski School and Revenge of the Nerds. They were going to push the boundaries, starting with the plot. The plot is real simple. Four buddies make a pact to lose their virginity before graduation in their senior year.

And the film follows their fumbles as they race for that goal. Sensitive Athlete Oz (Chris Klein) joins the Choir to woo cute and sweet Heather (Mena Suvari). Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) is trying to get his girlfriend Vicky (Tara Reid) to give up her virginity. “Worldly” Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) ultimately tries by being cool and aloof. Then there is Jim (Jason Biggs), the nerd of the group who pins his hopes on the sexy and sexually available foreign exchange student Nadia. Jim is repeatedly humiliated in the film.

The thing that is surprising? This film has a lot of heart. A lot of that is between the well written and performed scenes between Jim and his Dad (Eugene Levy). Jim’s dad is part bumbling dad stereotype, part wise sage. He loves his son and wants his son to succeed in life. He also tries to help his son navigate the world of relationships. He stumbles through the attempts, but his kindness is a high point in the film.

The problem is, while the male leads are clearly defined, Jessica (Natasha Lyonne) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) are the only female character who seem to have lives when they are not onscreen. Nadia gets the worst treatment as her character is literally only there to be someone Jim wants to have sex with. And when she and Jim have an embarrassing situation involving a webcam? She disappears from the story completely. And Jim, aside from humiliation, suffers no consequences.

The film’s gross out humor goes back and forth between disgusting and amusing. While Jim’s experiences are funny, the character of Stifler (Seann William Scott) gets the crude and disgusting moments. The character is pretty repulsive, constantly putting down the guys and making terrible sexual come ons (bordering on harassment) to the women around him. He is a sexist homophobic guy, and an all around unpleasant character.

The film also has the characters come to the realization that the pact is absurd. That sex is not the most important thing, and their pursuit of it was fruitless. And then the film ends with all the guys getting laid. So, way to undermine the revelation. Admittedly, it plays an important role for Kevin and Vicky dramatically (their experience is awkward and uncomfortable, and is spelling the end of their relationship, not fulfilling it). And Jim’s experience has a comedic payoff.

The film has it’s laughs and it’s heart does make it stand better against the test of time than films that tried to follow it’s success. But it is at best a flawed but entertaining comedy.

Tag: Adam Herz

Baked Goods Part 3 (American Wedding, 2003)

Baked Goods Part 2 (American Pie 2, 2001)

Baked Goods Part 1 (American Pie, 1999)