“American Wedding” (Universal Pictures)
It seems it is time to say bye-bye to the “American Pie” series of movies. The third episode “American Wedding” is now in theaters and this is the perfect way for the trilogy to end. Most of the original cast is back and the humor is still tart and tasteless. If you thought the first two movies were wild, well you ain’t seen nothing yet!
As the film opens Jim (Jason Biggs) is proposing to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan). She is the sweet looking but dirty talking girl from band camp, and he is the boy with an eye for pie. It’s a match made in Heaven – Hollywood style.
The rest of the movie deals with the wedding plans and the actual event. Jim includes his friends Finch (Eddie Kay Thomas) and Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) but tries to avoid getting Stiffler (Seann William Scott) involved. Michelle brings her sister Cadence (January Jones) into the mix.
Jim’s friend Oz (Chris Klein is never seen in this movie and never mentioned. The same is true of the characters played in the first two films by Mena Suvari and Tara Reid. Shannon Elizabeth’s character Nadia is mentioned but never seen.
Eugene Levy returns as Jim’s father and plays an important role in this movie. He provides some of the humor as well as some of the sweetness the movie engenders. Jim’s Dad may be a bumbler but his devotion to his son has never been questioned.
The inimitable Fred Willard is seen as Michelle’s father and he is just as much fun in this film as he was in “Best In Show.” The more you watch him the better he gets. Deborah Rush is okay as Michelle’s mother.
The star of the show though is Scott as Stiffler. He provides the grossest moments in the movie as well as the funniest ones. His antics are laugh out loud hilarious. Plus his character is better defined this time out. He is still the man with the foulest mouth, but he also shows a side to his friendship with Jim that has never been seen.
Anyone going to this movie should be forewarned that it has earned a hard R rating. There is nudity, profanity, coarse and gross behavior, and nauseating moments of foul humor. If there is a cheap laugh to be had, this movie goes for it.
Having said that, it should also be noted that this is a funny, funny film. Those who can sit through the coarseness will also be splitting their sides or choking on awfully amusing jokes and scenes.
And to top it all off there is the return of Stiffler’s mom (Jennifer Coolidge). It wouldn’t be an “American Pie” movie without her and she is back in fine form.
This is a movie full of adult humor presented in a teen level giggly, shock em good way. It won’t win any awards for class or taste but it should pack them in at the box office.
I scored “American Wedding” an “I do” think its funny 6 out of 10.
