American Wedding Starring Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan Directed by Jesse Dylan Rated R for sexual content, language, crude humor, and nudity 1/4 out of Stars, Movie Grade: C+

Theatrical Release: August 1, 2003
Running time: 102 minutes

by Kevin Lang

Cut me a slice of good old American pie. The third installment of the vulgar teen saga arrives in theaters today, reuniting most of the cast minus Chris Klein and Tara Reid (Oz and Vicky). This time the story surrounded Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) as they prepared for their wedding day. If you don't remember from the first two films, they're "the main kid" and "that girl from band camp."

The film, directed by Jesse Dylan (there has been a different director on each film), was a mediocre attempt to imitate a formula that worked much better in the first two films. This installment felt more like an unknowing rich kid trying to get by on the clout of his elders. Also, the familiar family-like feel of the young group was no longer present.

This isn't to say that it was a complete farce. The return of the saga's most memorable character, Steve Stifler (Sean William Scott), was a welcome treat. It could be expected since he had become the main source of comedy in the films. We were first reintroduced to Stifler as he pulled up in a school bus in front of Jim's house. This led to one vulgar incident after another, including a dog licking icing off Stifler's crotch, Stifler accidentally having intercourse with Jim's grandmother, and Stifler chewing on dog droppings. The latter literally made me want to gag. I can't say that these scenes weren't funny, but then again they were practically all that the movie had going for it. The images were simply too disgusting not to invoke a reaction.

The biggest problem with "American Wedding" was the story's ability to identify with its characters at that particular point in their lives. The first two films did a much better job of this. In the original American Pie film, we could relate to the feelings of the characters as they prepared to graduate from high school. In the second film, they struggled to adjust to each other again after finishing their freshman year in college. These two films did a good job in conveying to us what the characters were going through, thus enabling us to better relate to them. The third installment hurried too quickly into the vulgar humor, often abandoning any sort of developing storyline.

In the end, if you thoroughly enjoyed the first two films, you likely won't find this one a complete waste of your time. However, there will be moments when you just might have to force down the slightly stale American pie.

"American Wedding" Review written July 31, 2003, CTF.

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