Pure, unbridled joy...

Rating: 8/10 (4 March 2015)

Let's not beat about it, American Pie is hilarious. Its crude, raunchy humour and frequently outrageous giggles will leave you scoffing with a mixture of bowel crunching laughter and light shock. Like most teen movies, it's extremely cheesy, but once you get past that, it's only too easy to fall into seeing the flick the way it was intended... without a shred of seriousness.
The plot is simple enough. Four high school seniors pledge to lose their virginity before their fast approaching senior prom. The actors are at their best together, where the totally outrageous script truly doesn't hold back. By far the best feature of American Pie is its on-screen gags, which are both frequent and clever. They're outright brilliant, and will make you howl with laughter.
However, for those who view their cinema closely, American Pie is also an exploration into coming of age. You get the impression that the boys are desperately on the cusp of bridging the gap between teenager and adult. Such an impression is all too easy to relate to, and viewers may feel all overcome with nostalgia at the eventful house parties and sexual banter.
American Pie is comedy gold. It's utterly without dignity, but that's what makes it so wonderful. Sure, the acting's nothing special, but it's the boys' experiences that make it such a laugh. The plot and characters are strong enough that the film isn't totally ridiculous, but it's so cheeky and funny that it's become a popular classic.