American Reunion- Review

A decent movie to a series that is perhaps past it’s sell by date

It’s been nearly ten years since American Wedding (2003), and in that time the series has produced numerous straight to DVD spin offs.
Thankfully the new film brings all of the old gang back together for a reunion, this time they’re no longer teenagers but adults in the real world.

The opening scene introduces Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), who have since had a child together. In typical fashion the opening scene is both cringing and funny in a way we have come to expect from the previous films in the series. Without spoiling much it involves masturbation, on both characters accounts.

We’re soon treated to a short prologue scene for each of the other main characters, Kevin (Thomas Nicholas) has become a become a house husband, Oz (Chris Klein) is now a successful sports show host in Los Angeles, Stiffler (Sean William Scott) is working as a temp in a law firm.
Along with Finch (Eddie Kay Thomas) the old gang are brought together because of a high school reunion in their home town. The film soon brings the characters into awkward situations that we have seen before, namely girls and parties.

Along with the return of Jim’s dad (Eugene Levy), there are a number of funny moments in the film which are reminiscent of the far superior first two films of the series, but they are too far between one another, and whilst they may have once shocked audiences in the past now seem a little forced.

Because the characters are no longer teenagers the crass naivety of each of them is less believable as the writers would have liked. Sub plots such as the bad state of Jim and Michelle’s sex life seem out of place and hamper the pacing of the film.
Other characters from the first three films are now reduced to either slight supporting roles or just cameos, those include Stiffler’s mum, Nadia and Vicky (Tara Reid). Aside from Stiffler’s mum none of the others really much but take up screen time.

The film does have a subtlety and maturity that the others don’t have, and all of the characters come to a satisfying conclusion as the reunion takes place and the final scene follows the end credits, particularly in Stiffler’s case.

But I do hope this will be the last one, with the American box office numbers nowhere near the previous three films this will be more than likely. Perhaps the film would have better served if it had been released on the tenth anniversary of the first film in 2009 instead of 2012.

But American Reunion is still a decent film worth seeing that will divide fans and bring nothing new to newcomers, my message to them, go back to the beginning where it all started.
3/5