American Pie

American Pie; comedy, USA, 1999; D: Paul Weitz, S: Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Sean William Scott, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Shannon Elizabeth, Eugene Levy, Alyson Hannigan, Tara Reid, Natasha Lyonne, Mena Suvari

The 17-year old Jim and his friends Oz, Kevin and Finch make a deal that they will lose their virginity until the end of high school. In order to get the attention of the girls, they start sending flowers, talk about love and even sing in the choir. Jim gets his chance when Nadia, a Czech exchange student, drops by his house for some history lessons. He broadcasts their encounter through the Internet, but when she wants to sleep with him, he "fails". On top of that, his dad gives him advice about masturbation. None of the guys have better luck, but on prom night they get dates and all have sex, including Jim who sleeps with Michelle.

Light teenage comedy "American Pie" has a few vulgar and bad gags, but as a whole it's a decent and rather dynamic fun for the broad masses, thus becoming a big hit. The plot about four teenage guys who made an oath to lose their virginity until the prom night really doesn't have any deeper meaning and is already in advance predestined for unambitious viewers, and some conservative people might not find pleasure in the exaggerated, liberal, caricature and loose view on teenage intercourse, but Jason Biggs turned out to be quite a good comedian, the story has sense and is indeed valid in it's point. Paul Weitz isn't that talented of a director, but has solid skills while he openly likes to push the envelope - the already legendary gag about Jim "trying out" the pie by putting it between his legs is pretty dumb and tasteless, but obviously there are some people who find it amusing - and all actors are solid, but they are all overshadowed with ease by the hilarious Eugene Levy in the role of Jim's father (who gives him advice about "intimate things"), simply unbeatable in the final scene where he is dancing in the tune to Barenaked Ladies' song "One Week".

Grade:++