American Reunion

Release Date: Apr 06, 2012 

Runtime: 1 hr. 53 min. 

Director: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg 

Cast: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Eugene Levy, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari, John Cho, Jennifer Coolidge.

In 1999, one movie changed the fate of baked goods forever. Raunchy, uncensored, and crudely entertaining, "American Pie" helped pave the way for teen comedies alike; including two moderate sequels, and the rather unmentionable direct-to-dvd's. But like most things you own in high school, you tend to outgrow them, and that's exactly what happens here in "Reunion." Despite thirteens years in between the first film and now, the characters and scenarios really haven't changed much. Jim is still getting caught in compromising positions, and Stifler is still...well, Stifler. It's the nostalgia that draws you in, but ultimately lets you down, like a long-running gag that's tirelessly been depleted. With familiar antics and lewdness as before, the sequel loses any form of novelty the fourth time around. This is keeping in mind the return of the entire cast, many of whom were absent in the last two rounds. Fortunately, as it's worth mentioning, Eugene Levy as Jim's dad continues to be the comic scapegoat. His unconventional fathering methods have always been the highlight of the "Pie" series, and the same can be said for this entry. If we've learned anything from his words of wisdom, it's that everything happens naturally. And likewise, this franchise has essentially run its course.

Rating: 2 stars