If there is one thing I dislike more than sequels, it's second sequels. They are, more often than not, pathetic attempts to squeeze the last inklings of quality or money out of a decent film. There are, of course, a few exceptions to this gross generalization. "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" is my personal favorite of the trilogy. "American Wedding" -- the third in the "American Pie" series -- is no "Last Crusade."
I both admired and enjoyed the first "American Pie" film. Somehow the combination of an extremely low budget and a cast made almost completely of no-name actors produced a raunchy but altogether pretty funny movie. The film spoke well to its target audience -- hormonal high school students. My friends and I, as hormonal high school students, could relate to the embarrassing antics of that first film.
But that was 1999, and here we are in 2003. The main characters in American Wedding have aged according to true time and now are graduating from college. But somehow, despite their college diplomas, these characters haven't grown up at all.
The cast of this third film is basically the same as from the first two films, except for a notably absent Chris Klein. The focus, however, is more centralized. The movie chronicles the engagement and marriage of Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan). In attendance as groomsmen are Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas). Eugene Levy returns as Jim's father, while Fred Willard ("A Mighty Wind," "Best in Show") and Deborah Rush ("The Good Girl") are new additions to the cast as Michelle's parents.
The antics of this movie are exactly like those of the first two films. The opening five minutes include fellatio in a public place and indecent exposure in a restaurant. As the film moves on, there is pubic hair blowing in the wind, feces-eating and mistaken identity in a gay bar. Like I said before, time may have passed, but nothing has changed for these guys.
My main qualm with the movie is that there's too much Stiffler (Seann William Scott). His crude character was a humorous addition to the first film, but he (thankfully) wasn't overwhelming, and the main focus remained on the four friends trying to get some action before prom. In this third edition, however, he is everywhere. His language, his actions, his incredibly annoying laugh -- they're all over-the-top.
Another major problem with this film is the timing. Throughout my viewing, I couldn't help but feel that there was something wrong underlying the entire movie. The jokes, the sticky situations -- they just seem off. Everyone in the film is trying too hard, and it shows. Even with three regulars of Christopher Guest movies (Eugene Levy, Fred Willard, and a cameo by Jennifer Coolidge as Stiffler's mom), a cast famous for their brilliant ad-lib and humorous delivery, this film couldn't be saved.
Now, I have to admit, I did laugh once or twice. The movie isn't completely void of successful humor. But it doesn't come close to fulfilling the standard set by the first film, and almost by the second. All in all, I was disappointed. I just hope that Adam Herz moves on to write something new, and sets these characters aside to become part of teen movie history.
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