American Pie 2 (2001)

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Released in 2001, "American Pie 2," features the characters of the first movie (from 1999) after their freshman year of college, having fun during the summer break, particularly at a beach house where they throw the biggest party ever. I like high school and college comedies and I can see the good in "American Pie 2" (and the first film), like the quality characters, genuinely amusing parts, the fun rockin' soundtrack and the beauty of some of the girls, like Mena Suvari & Lisa Arturo, but there's just too much raunch. The over-the-top sleazy/vulgar parts ruin the good, for me anyway. It's a shame; what a waste. The movie runs 108 minutes and was shot in Malibu, Long Beach, Altadena & Pasadena, CA, as a stand-in for Grand Haven, Michigan. GRADE: C-

American Pie 2 is without a doubt one of the funniest movies I have ever seen, and my personal favorite from the series. Not only does it deliver great comedy, but also showcases the evolution of the characters and how they face their first summer back from college. This is something that I think resonates with a lot of people and it was one of the reasons why I loved it. So 1 year later, we see Jim, Kevin, Oz, Finch & Stifler get back to hanging out and looking to spend the perfect summer by partying their asses off. For this they will have to move to the lakeside and rent a beach house in order to end their holidays with a memorable farewell party. Friendships will be tested, realizations will arise, as well as love, and in the end we get to find out if these group's bond was made stronger from the experience. For starters, this movie once again delivers in its trademark raunchiness with hilarious moments mainly involving Jim, but also Stifler. Storywise, we see the maturity most of these characters have garnered. I think the one that truly sees this in the best way is Kevin, as he is still clinging on to his old life, trying to be with Vicki and hanging out with his group. But Vicki only wants to be friends, and so Kevin learns that he must not live in the past, while also accepting the promising future he has. For me American Pie 2 is a great sequel to an already great movie. In fact, for me, it eclipses the original and makes for an even better experience. It's funny, disgusting and most of all entertaining in every aspect. Rating: 10/10

When a film is an unexpected hit, it is not uncommon to see a sequel trying to rehash the formula. Unfortunately, while sounding like a clever idea, utilizing the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" motto, only a handful of films can get away with. With comedy films, it's especially rare and difficult, since many thing that existed in the first film are now close to obsolete. Most recently, we can say what an utter disappointment The Hangover Part II was, and for animation, I can see a look of sorrow and woe on all our faces when we paid to see The Jungle Book 2. Also, how many parents felt just a tiny bit cheated when they ventured out with their kid to Home Alone 2: Lost in New York? I bring this up because, being an avid moviegoer and watcher, I experience it a lot, and probably tend to notice it more than other people. I expected American Pie 2 to be nothing but a mediocre rehash of a formula I believed would only form a successful film once. The element of surprise is gone, the characters have grown up a bit, and there just doesn't seem to be a conceivable way to freshen the idea without taking an obviously lucrative turn. Thankfully, screenwriter Adam Herz, who also wrote the first Pie film, has made me eat those words along with his second helping of pie. American Pie 2 is one of the few comedy sequels I've seen that efficiently redoes what the original paved out, yet still includes that new movie smell.The plot revolves around the same bunch of characters we loved in the first film, only this time they're not naive high school Seniors days away from graduating, but less naive College kids on summer break. Jim (Biggs), Kevin (Nicholas), Oz (Klein), and Finch (Thomas) all return and plan to throw an unforgettable bash at a Grand Harbor lakehouse in Michigan. Not a whole ton has changed with the guys, Jim hasn't gotten over foreign exchange hottie Nadia (Elizabeth), Kevin is still desperately seeking Vicky (Reid), after cutting their relationship short to attend separate colleges, Oz is still dating the adorable choir girl Heather (Suvari), and Finch still has not gotten over his fling with Stifler's mom (Coolidge).When Jim learns that Nadia will be returning from Chicago to see him during the summer, he seeks the advice of quirky but lovable Michelle (Hannigan), whom he took to Senior Prom. The chemistry between the two is electric, and you almost crave to hear Hannigan recite the famous six words I doubt you need repeated. Also, some of the funniest work comes from Eugene Levy, reprising his role as Jim's father who continues to be supportive and understanding of his son's bizarre sex accidents. It seems Levy exists as the satirical character in a world where the kids are in a comedy movie. The unexpected mix works perfectly with the overall feel. The only character I feel is still painfully underused is Natasha Lyonne's Jessica, who seems like she could deliver more if the screenplay let her. Maybe she is supposed to be mysterious and subtle in her presence.There is a bit more of a focus on gross-out gags here than in the first film. One scene involving potential lesbian neighbors is stretched out a bit too long, and loses some of its humor over time. There is also a scene involving urine which isn't very funny, but we're thrilled to see these characters back again, cherishing and embracing each of their sitcom personas.Like in the original film, there is a nice blend of sweetness and wit to compliment a lot of the gross antics, making for a nice hybrid. We've only spent two movies with these characters, but somehow feel we've personally connected with them in a way that makes us crave more events involving them. It's so rare we get characters like this, and everyone here seems to be determined to make a great, fun movie. So many people just look at the original Pie trilogy and see it as nothing but a reviled sex romp and nothing more. Many don't pay attention to the intelligence and spirit that makes these films so delightfully enigmatic and cheery. That's what the Pie is all about.I just have one tiny question for the gang this time around. We are informed of the "rule of three" where if you ask a girl how many guys she has slept with, you take that number and multiply it by three. Okay. Fair enough. We then learn from the girls that when you ask a guy how many girls he has slept with, you take the number and divide it by three. So what if a guy says he has slept with five girls. He has slept with 1.7 girls? Starring: Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Seann William Scott, Shannon Elizabeth, Alyson Hannigan, Natasha Lyonne, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari, Eugene Levy. Directed by: J.B. Rogers.Reviews of American Wedding, American Pie Presents: Band Camp, American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile, American Pie Presents: Beta House, American Pie Presents: The Book of Love, and American Reunion coming soon.

I was surprised when I finally saw American PIE 2 and found it to be as funny as the first. I'd assumed it would be a sub-par sequel that needlessly rehashed the original in an attempt to milk it for more profit; in the end, I was only partially right. The film does rehash some material from the original but it adds enough to keep it funny. The film begins at the end of the freshman year of college and the crew from the first film decide to rent a house on Lake Michigan in hopes of having the most memorable summer ever, while each dealing with their own issues. Jim seeks bedroom advice from Michelle in anticipation of Nadia's impending visit. Oz and Heather are made to spend the summer apart while she studies overseas and must overcome the distance to keep their relationship strong. Kevin is forced to cope with Vicky's desire to be "just friends", and Finch spends all summer preparing for his moment with the one that got away...Stifler's mom.This film is directed by the original's first assistant director J. B. Rogers, and I have to give him credit for a decent job. Granted, there are more difficult movies for one to jump into directing with but I've seen so many film sequels picked up by non-directors fail that I commend Rogers for a decent job here. Writer Adam Herz returned to pen the sequel, which allowed for the same sense of humor and understanding of the characters. The film does a great job of bringing back that same raunchy yet occasionally heart-warming humor of the first; at points I almost felt as if the filmmakers were reaching a bit with the gags, but I still found myself laughing.The entire original cast returned for American PIE 2 (which is good because I doubt if it ever would have worked otherwise). Jason Biggs is back in the role that jump-started his career and retains that awkward presence that keeps finding Jim in the worst situations. The rest of the cast don't have as much of a presence, as this film definitely feels like Jim's story, but the supporting characters have some great moments. I loved Eddie Kay Thomas in the film; Finch has taken up Eastern philosophy and tantric studies and he had some of the funniest moments in the film. The absolute best, once again, is Eugene Levy as Jim's dad. He isn't given as much to do this time and pretty much disappears after the first act but Levy is comedy gold. Both of the first American PIE films were some of the best teen raunch comedies in recent years and, as long as you were a fan of the first, you shouldn't have a problem finding something to laugh at this time around.