Hilarious

Rating: Null/10 (17 February 2000)

A hilarious caper from beginning to end! It echoes of past greats such as Porky's but with far more sensitivity and youthfulness, more likened to the John Hughes classics of the last decade. Even at the senior prom, the band are playing a cover of Simple Minds' Don't You Forget About Me, perhaps paying homage to The Breakfast Club. Although these eighties trends are relived, the film keeps up to date fairly well and to emphasise this, one of the gags involves the Internet!
The plot is simple: four high school senior lads make a pact to lose their virginity before they go off to college. They have, basically, until Prom Night left, and they don't even have a date. Although the plot centres around sex, it is more to do with dealing with adolescence than the typical over-confident characters in a lot of American teen-flicks which centre on the college student. The film deals with sex as an issue of uncertainty to both genders; a refreshing change for this new age of brat-pack movie.
With certain exceptions, the characters in American Pie are easy to identify with. They are almost likeable in their geeky ways, and their parents almost tolerable! The only thing that misses for me is that perhaps I am too old to fully appreciate it. I have a feeling that it was designed for people of similar age to the characters within the movie for full impact. Being the case, then, I would imagine many who see it are below the certificate minimum.
However it is a film for all to enjoy, although if you have a dislike for toilet humour then avoid it. It relies on this as its backbone and the theme of masturbation is rife, albeit hilarious! Watch out for familiar faces from Buffy, most notably Alyson Hannigan. Perhaps not one to see with your better half, but your younger brother will adore it!