I was just too young to have been caught up in the craze that surrounded American Pie when it was first released in 1999 and I didn't see it until about 2002 but it was still the defining teen comedy of my generation. It's strange to think that kids who weren't even born when the first one was released will be sneaking into cinemas to watch the fourth one. Given that it's been nine years since the last one (not counting the spinoffs), is there appetite for another slice of pie?
The five friends have had differing fortunes since the last time they were all together. Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) have a two-year-old son. Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) is working from home as an architect and is henpecked by his wife Ellie (Charlene Amoia). Stifler (Sean William Scott) is a temp, working in an office as an assistant for the boss (Vik Sahay). Oz (Chris Klein) is a D-list celebrity: a presenter of a sports show, a former contestant on Celebrity-Dance Off and in a relationship with supermodel Mia (Katrina Bowden). Finch (Eddie Kay Thomas) has apparently disappeared and turns up with tales of his trips around the world on the back of his motorbike. Heather (Mena Suvari) is a doctor and dating a surgeon (Jay Harrington). The only thing we learn about Vicky (Tara Reid) is that she's single and been living in New York.
It's not just the gang and their former love interests that return. Jim's Dad (Eugene Levy), now a widower, has a prominent role. Stifler's Mom (Jennifer Coolidge) is a supporting character and Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth), Jessica (Natasha Lyonne), The Sherminator (Chris Owen) and even the MILF guys (John Cho and Justin Isfeld) all have cameos. New characters include Kara (Ali Cobrin), Jim's newly-turned eighteen-year-old neighbour whom he used to babysit for; her boyfriend, A.J. (Chuck Hittinger) and Selena (Dania Ramirez), one of Michelle's friends from Band Camp.
After reuniting for their high school reunion, the guys quickly discovered that things didn't turn out as they'd all hoped. Jim and Michelle have found their sex life suffer after having a child; Kevin is unhappy at being stuck at home all day; Stifler, stuck in a job he hates, misses high school; Oz, looking for commitment, wants his girlfriend to settle down with him and Finch, far from being the urbane traveller he wants people to think he is, is in fact an assistant manager of a stationery shop. Depressed that their lives didn't turn out as they hoped, they begin to look elsewhere. Kara throws herself at Jim and Oz and Kevin are drawn back towards Heather and Vicky.
So, with all the old gang back together, is the magic still there? Was the film worth making? Just about. The chemistry between Oz and Heather is genuine but Kevin and Vicky seem forced together and Kara's interest in Jim is just silly. Mia is the only genuinely funny new character and Katrina Bowden plays her very well. The biggest laughs come from Stifler and Jim's Dad, particularly when the latter meets Stifler's Mom. There is a general feeling of nostalgia and a relatable sense of familiarity to the characters' worries but the old magic isn't quite there. After a promising opening, the film resorts to Stifler shitting in A.J.'s beer cooler and the scene where the guys have to sneak a topless Kara back into her bedroom is a bit of a misfire.
The film's decent enough and certainly worth a watch if you're a fan of the films but there's nothing new or outstanding here.
6 out of 10.
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