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To start it
off, let's recap this summer's sequels: "Scary Movie 2" was
bad; "Jurassic Park 3" was good; "Rush Hour 2" was
bad; "American Pie 2" was...anybody? Anybody?
Following the pattern, "American Pie 2" is good, and it
really is-- no coincidence. It's not that great, but it
was definitely a lot of fun to watch. So, on to the review....
"American
Pie 2" starts out after the gang's (Finch, Jim, Stifler, Oz, and
Kevin) first year of college. They all come home for awhile then
go to a beach house that Kevin's older brother (Casey Affleck)
suggested. Yeah, that's pretty much the plot, but if you were
expecting a plot, then you must not have seen the first one.
Okay, okay, the first one had a plot, but it wasn't a movie that one
would think there would be a sequel to. The sequel pretty much
uses the same devices: Jim's dad walks in on Jim in an awkward
situation; Casey Affleck gives Kevin advice; Jim, Michelle, and
Sherman are geeks; the list goes on and on, but for some reason it
worked.
Awhile
back I saw Tara Reid on Leno and she was saying that this one
"isn't as raunchy as the first". Yeah right.
This one has at least the same level of gross out humor as the first
if not more. Without giving anything away, there is some really
nasty stuff, but if you enjoyed the original then you won't
care.
The
characters that I liked the most in the first movie were also my
favorites in this one. That's right, Jim's dad and Stifler.
Hold on...I have to stop for a sec to rant, ok? Chris
Penn was supposed to be in this, just like he was supposed to be
"Rush Hour 2", but he wasn't. I'm starting to lose
faith in IMDb (Internet Movie Database) because Chris is listed in the
credits for both movies. Okay,
I'm done with the ranting. Where was I? Oh yeah, Jim's dad
and Stifler. Played by Eugene Levy and Seann William Scott,
respectively. Eugene plays the role of the dad so well in this,
more so then in the first one. Seann (what's with the 2nd 'n'?)
is also very good as the life of the party. Most of the laughs
in the movie came from these two actors. Oh yeah, and the kid
who plays Stifler's little brother returns as well and cusses even
more.
The
music is really good. There's Blink-182, 3 Doors Down, Weezer,
Alien Ant Farm, and a few more. It really makes the movie
enjoyable when there's good tunes in it.
So, do I
recommend it? Hell yeah I do, but not for everyone. It's a
guy movie, a young guy movie at that, but maybe some women might enjoy
it....ah, they probably won't. It's one of the better sequels to
come out this summer-- the summer of sequels.
-- James
( 2 1/2 out of 4 pops )
Talk
about this film with other Popkorn Junkies |
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Other Junkie's
opinions.....
Matt ( 3 1/2 out of 4 pops )
"American Pie 2" is TWICE as funny as the first! I've
heard by a fair share of audiences that the film repeats the gags used
in the original. It's true that the gags are similar and the
pacing is similar. So what? If this is a reprise
of the original, it's a funnier reprise. And considering how funny
the original sleeper hit was, that's saying a lot! The plot is
thinner this time around, and at times you feel as if you're watching a
series of comedy sketches. Nevertheless, I was rarely able to
restrain myself from bursting into laughter. I know I've been
speaking out against gross-out teen comedies, but the makers of the
"AP" movies KNOW how to deliver a joke, dirty or not, with
perfect timing and perfect delivery. I also think the filmmakers
have much more discipline than most of these pervs who feel "the
nastier the funnier." It all depends on the WAY you handle a
joke. In AP, there's nothing sexually graphic and it's all done
strictly in a comic fashion. So for those who enjoyed the first
"American Pie"--you might want to consider going
for seconds.
Liz ( 2 out of 4 pops )
Any sequel that brings back the entire first cast deserves some credit.
Fans of the first movie are bound to go see the second. This
approach, however, does smack of three M's - Money Making
Machine. Sure, it's enjoyable enough watching Jim and his buds
(and his dad) flounder around again. But does this add anything to
the viewer's life? A few new gross-out gags, maybe. And,
disturbingly, a scene wherein female homosexuality is glorified while
male relationships are yuckified. Welcome to Double Standard City,
where social implications are ignored in favor of a hearty chuckle and
an impetus for hetero guy gratification. Just don't expect too
much from this flick.
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