KINO_LOG
< home
American Pie / Ameriska pita
A smart and dirty teenage TV sitcom that almost fails to suck.
Andie's Rating: It�s coming, it�s coming...... Andie's Review: I have to tell you, I thought this movie was one of the funniest movies I�ve ever seen. It was crass and gross, but then again, so are high school and college. (A few of my guy friends are fond of saying, �I�d like a pizza.....a pizza ass!� ) Anyway, I liked it so much I went and saw it twice in one day in the theaters. This movie just completely spoke to me, probably because I know a lot of people that are just like the characters. The basic idea is that four guys vow to lose their virginity by prom night. The ensuing hijinks are fantastic. I found myself actually cheering these poor schmucks on as they did everything they could to con girls to sleep with them (which, as a girl, is a little embarrassing). Jim (Jason Biggs) and Oz (Chris Klein) were particularly endearing in their quest to get a piece. I also have to give kudos to the females of the movie, especially Jessica (Natasha Lyonne) as the sex-wise friend to the naiv� Vicky (Tara Reid) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) as the flute-toting band dork. Hands down, she has the two best lines in the whole movie. Anyone who was offended by this movie needs to be slapped and told to lighten up. It�s not out to be poignant or touching or moral. It�s supposed to be funny! And that�s exactly what it is. Justin's Rating: Equipped with Special K's love kit Justin's Review: Despite how raunchy modern comedies want you to think they are, they're really pretty tame compared to teen sex romps of the late 70s and 80s. American Pie is a film that centers around the age-old concept of high school kids with little else but coitus on the mind. After seeing the famous pie commercial (American Pie's answer to There's Something About Mary's "hair gel"), I expected at least a Penthouse Letters/Hustler type of film; but don't be fooled by advertising - this is really no more offensive or explicit than Playboy. Four high school guys make a vow to release themselves from the bondage of virginity by their high school prom. Not highly original, but it does allow for a few good scenes. The best are when Jim (Jason Biggs) keeps getting caught by his father while... well, you know. At one point his dad gives him the "talk" that had to be the most hilariously embarrassing movie scene I've ever experienced. Some of the other plot threads felt predictable and lacking. For kids who are supposedly sex-crazy, they don't seem utterly enthusiastic about it for most of the film. If you rent this looking for the money shots, save your dough. Most of the cast is underaged, and only one girl gets funky for the camera (probably destroying her film career forever in the process). Most everything else is innuendo and nudge-nudge wink-wink kind of humor. As an educational flick, about the only new idea you're going to get for American Pie is an innovative use for the internet in your own home. But I really didn't hate this film that much or find it all too offensive. Comedies are lacking in theaters recently, and American Pie does have a few shining moments to demand a viewing or two. I just feel it's sad that edgy comedies aren't all that edgy anymore... if you're going to do something with pinache or pie, go the distance. Justin: I got the "unrated version" of this DVD, so the R-rated one might be a bit different. Groovy animated menus (done as if you were looking at a Mac computer screen watching the infamous "strip" scene). There are two full screens of Bonus Materials, so you won't go hungry with this DVD! There's a "Spotlight On Location" documentary, which includes scenes from the movie and cast interviews. The feature commentary has the director, producer, writer, and most of the cast members (what a party!) all jabbering like high schoolers with interesting facts and noting which girls they each thought were babes. Very entertaining. The outtakes reel wasn't too interesting, but it's there. There's a promo for the soundtrack, which has a music video for Tonic at the end. I enjoyed the "Music Highlights", which could flash you to a scene where a certain song was playing (22 songs here!). Similar to this is the "Classic Quotes" option, which can instantly take you to one of 20 great quotes from the film. Other bonus materials include production notes, info on the cast and filmmakers, and trailers for American Pie, Blues Brothers, Animal House, American Graffiti, Man on the Moon, and Snow Falling on Cedars. If all that's not enough, there are some DVD-ROM features to check out. A good movie and an excellent DVD to boot