American Reunion Review: A Crowd Pleasing Slice Of Familiar Pie
It’s completely sentimental, but because of its emotional honesty, this slice of pie – hopefully the last – is satisfying to the final bite.
rating: 3.5
When we remember the frenzy of nostalgia which crowded last years Oscars with films like The Artist, Hugo and Midnight in Paris transporting us back to the magical worlds of old the possibility of getting misty-eyed at a sex comedy film series that is merely 13 years old seems absolutely ludicrous. That American Pie: The Reunion will legitimately evoke this feeling from its core audience now in their mid-twenties to early-thirties is a testament to the series insistence to nimbly remain uproariously juvenile while providing just enough new insights into the characters lives to make it worthwhile. It is thirteen years since the kids left high school, and on the verge of a reunion, they all appear to have grown into their adult lives with the expected lack of enthusiasm. Married couple Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) find it hard to get quiet time together now that they have a son, while Oz (Chris Klein) is still a nice guy now caught up in the soul-destroying world of vapid entertainment, and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) is a mysterious, adventurous drifter. Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) is probably the best adjusted of the bunch if a little under the thumb while Stifler (Seann William Scott), who none of the others chose to invite, has not changed at all, and is slumming it as an office temp.
While in many ways a run-of-the-mill comedy about existential crisis as adult life takes hold, writers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg ably exploit the audiences nostalgia for these characters. Even if the observations therein arent too original, the pair have found enough wiggle room to make this one worth it; quite appropriately, less emphasis is placed on sex this time though it still abounds and more on the relationship dramas of the characters, who now exist in a world with smart phones, Facebook and everything else which blew up since the last film. Also, with Hurwitz and Schlossbergs fame stemming from their work on the Harold and Kumar series, the films tone is slanted ever-so slightly, boasting amusing references to The Hangover, Apocalypse Now, Twilight and the Spice Girls, while also throwing in more scatological humour and full frontal nudity than the other entries. While it is impressive that pretty much every face, both big and small, has returned for this entry, it is encouraging that a firm attempt has been made to update the series, while still retaining its innate goofy sweetness. The embarrassing humour is still perfectly-pitched, and no matter how old these guys get, it seems that their inner-fratboy wont quite disappear. Some of the more genuinely rousing observations come from noting how fast time moves, something the core audience, having grown up with these films, will doubtless appreciate. We get a sense of things moving on; several characters are now in different relationships, yet precious screen time isnt wasted on explaining why, and such is life. Furthermore, aspects such as how we view the generation following us, as well as the law and our general shifting politics as we get older are well touched on. 
A film of this sort isnt the first to come to mind when you think of good acting, but The Reunion does hammer it home, at least as far as the central male dynamic goes. Seann William Scott is particularly good as the series lovable rogue, who hammers home the sad but necessary notion of having to grow up, and its a sweet if naïve sentiment which will resonate well with crowds, I expect. Also retaining a more relatable human element, the relationship between Jim and his father (Eugene Levy) generates some of the most human moments throughout; now single after his wifes death, we get a clever reversal of the constant advisement scenarios that have played out through the films. If theres anything to really critique, it is that the set-up relies on a little too much coincidence; characters bump into each other with alarming regularity, but at the same time it is a means to an end, and probably necessary. The cast chemistry is still immaculate especially Reid and Nicholas as the former high school sweethearts while the awkward humour is oddly suspenseful, and the drama works because the characters are likable, and therefore we care. Smart use of some period music helps amplify the nostalgia, even if that might be completely absurd for a film released barely over a decade ago. Shamelessly sentimental, but because of its emotional honesty, this slice of pie hopefully the last is satisfying to the final bite. The climactic prom scene would likely feel massively contrived in lesser hands, but because we are invested in what is going on, the clean resolution feels earned rather than forced. They pulled it off, but please, no more. 
American Reunion is released in UK cinemas from tomorrow.