Safe at home with the dvd

Rating: 9/10 (3 January 2000)

When I first caught the trailers for American Pie I thought that it was going to be too crude. There was no doubt that this film would make Something About Mary seem like a Disney flick. But now, in the comfort of my own home, having just witnessed the DVD version of American Pie, I have to say that it is an excellent movie. Having been raised on films by the Zucker brothers and Mel Brooks, that's a difficult statement to make. But those movies were the early stages of making sex a comedic subject, and American Pie is the next step in the evolutionary chain. I'm sure I was as shocked at some scenes as the previous generation were at segments of Airplane! or Blazing Saddles.
It's difficult to believe that this is the Weitz brothers first film. The story flowed extremely well, particularly over the raciest subject matter. And the cast is superb. Had the screenplay been handled with less finesse, or the lines read with less youthful innocence, I'm certain this would have been a movie to avoid. But instead I found it a great escape.
Eugene Levy was the only cast member I recognized from previous roles, and he did a very credible job as the loving father awkwardly attempting to help his boy pass into manhood.
I would strongly recommend American Pie to any of my friends interested in comedy films.>