Is American Pie a comedy classic or overrated?
06-27-04 | 04:48 AM
#1
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Is American Pie a comedy classic or overrated?
What do you think?
The first was good and the second was alright but the 3rd sequel was crappy.
What happened to the Tara Reid, Natasha Lyonne, Mena Suvari, Chris Klein, and Thomas Ian Nichols characters and why did they reject doing a 3rd sequel?
The first was good and the second was alright but the 3rd sequel was crappy.
What happened to the Tara Reid, Natasha Lyonne, Mena Suvari, Chris Klein, and Thomas Ian Nichols characters and why did they reject doing a 3rd sequel?
06-27-04 | 06:46 AM
#2
DVD Talk Godfather
I think the first, in time will be considered a classic.
As to your other question, do a search. There are a few threads about 'american wedding' that discuss what you are looking for.
As to your other question, do a search. There are a few threads about 'american wedding' that discuss what you are looking for.
06-27-04 | 12:24 PM
#8
DVD Talk Legend
Overrated. The first one was a nice throwback to the old genre but got copied way too much. The sequels are best left alone.
06-27-04 | 01:29 PM
#14
DVD Talk Legend
I found them enjoyable, and the first one in particular I thought was quite good. You could even give it a few extra points for helping bring back the R-rated teen comedy. SOmething that had faded. But is it a classic? I have no idea, I don't make that determination. I just like it.
By the way, Thomas Ian Nicholas is in all the sequels (Also, I believe they didn't want to bring all the characters back for the 3rd film either. Although Chris Klein I have no idea about)
By the way, Thomas Ian Nicholas is in all the sequels (Also, I believe they didn't want to bring all the characters back for the 3rd film either. Although Chris Klein I have no idea about)
06-27-04 | 01:44 PM
#15
DVD Talk Legend
The first one will probably be considered a classic, but I don't know about the other two (even if they both made more money than the first).
The first American Pie was a throw back to the old teen sex comedy genre, something no one saw in a while. Until 1999, most recent teen sex comedies were direct-to-video schlock. It was a while since an actual mainstream studio tackled the topic of sex. The directors and writer of the first film took an old genre and made it fresh for today's generation. It might not be a great of a film as Animal House or Porky's, but it will be remembered. I love the film, but that's just my opinion.
American Pie 2 was basically the first film rehashed. The film took the script of the first film, placed it a few years into the future, and just changed every comedic moment the film had to offer. Drinking semen changed into drinking urine. A girl masturbating over the internet turned into two lesbians fooling around over walkie talkies. Getting caught watching porn turned into getting caught watching porn while your hand was glued to your dick. The film was indeed hilarious, but it doesn't hold up to the original. Whereas the first film had a story, characters you cared about, and great comedic moments; the sequel just relied on comedy more than anything else. It also didn't help that the film had one too many characters.
American Wedding was the best sequel out of the two. Unlike the first sequel which tried to include some emphais on plot and characters (but failed), writer Adam Herz realized what most people enjoyed from the first two films and placed major emphasis on it. That being Stiffler. Stiffler was at top of his game in this film. Completely rude, crude, tastless, and over the top. The last sequel drops the dead weight of the cast from the first two films shifting complete focus on Jim, Stiffler, Finch, Kevin, and Michelle as hilarity ensues. Thankfully Mr. Herz came up with new situations to get the characters in instead of just rehashing old ones. I had a great time with this film and thought it was a fantastic way to end the franchise. I would've liked to see the film place more an emphasis on Jim (he was the central character in the first two films, and he felt more as a supporting character in this one), but what can you do?
The first American Pie was a throw back to the old teen sex comedy genre, something no one saw in a while. Until 1999, most recent teen sex comedies were direct-to-video schlock. It was a while since an actual mainstream studio tackled the topic of sex. The directors and writer of the first film took an old genre and made it fresh for today's generation. It might not be a great of a film as Animal House or Porky's, but it will be remembered. I love the film, but that's just my opinion.
American Pie 2 was basically the first film rehashed. The film took the script of the first film, placed it a few years into the future, and just changed every comedic moment the film had to offer. Drinking semen changed into drinking urine. A girl masturbating over the internet turned into two lesbians fooling around over walkie talkies. Getting caught watching porn turned into getting caught watching porn while your hand was glued to your dick. The film was indeed hilarious, but it doesn't hold up to the original. Whereas the first film had a story, characters you cared about, and great comedic moments; the sequel just relied on comedy more than anything else. It also didn't help that the film had one too many characters.
American Wedding was the best sequel out of the two. Unlike the first sequel which tried to include some emphais on plot and characters (but failed), writer Adam Herz realized what most people enjoyed from the first two films and placed major emphasis on it. That being Stiffler. Stiffler was at top of his game in this film. Completely rude, crude, tastless, and over the top. The last sequel drops the dead weight of the cast from the first two films shifting complete focus on Jim, Stiffler, Finch, Kevin, and Michelle as hilarity ensues. Thankfully Mr. Herz came up with new situations to get the characters in instead of just rehashing old ones. I had a great time with this film and thought it was a fantastic way to end the franchise. I would've liked to see the film place more an emphasis on Jim (he was the central character in the first two films, and he felt more as a supporting character in this one), but what can you do?
06-27-04 | 02:07 PM
#18
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absolute classic!
06-27-04 | 03:14 PM
#19
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
I was in HS when the original came out...and still thought it was overrated then and still do now. What a huge letdown of a film!
The humor did not work and the forced drama felt well forced and unrealistic despite their 'senstive' attempts at the material. It just did not work for me at all. Only the internet scene was mildly amusing,but not nearly as laugh out loud funny as I expected.
In fact the only real laughs I got from any of the films was provided by Eugene Levy who was hilarious!!
I think Hollywood has forgotten how to make real funny comedies and rely on going for forced humor,rather than actually attempting to be funny. Hence why something like Scary Movie was not funny,it was all forced..and the same goes for the attempts at both humor & drama in the Pie films. It all felt forced and just did not work for me.
In fact the two absolutely jaw dropping laugh out loud hilarious films in the last decade in my opinion..,were two films that may not have been intended as comedies,but they out did any 'legit' comedy in terms of major laugh value....
Color of Night
&
Species 2
No film in the past decade has made me laugh more than those two. Hollywood really needs to get their act together with comedies,as they are failing big time in providing honest legit laughs.
The humor did not work and the forced drama felt well forced and unrealistic despite their 'senstive' attempts at the material. It just did not work for me at all. Only the internet scene was mildly amusing,but not nearly as laugh out loud funny as I expected.
In fact the only real laughs I got from any of the films was provided by Eugene Levy who was hilarious!!
I think Hollywood has forgotten how to make real funny comedies and rely on going for forced humor,rather than actually attempting to be funny. Hence why something like Scary Movie was not funny,it was all forced..and the same goes for the attempts at both humor & drama in the Pie films. It all felt forced and just did not work for me.
In fact the two absolutely jaw dropping laugh out loud hilarious films in the last decade in my opinion..,were two films that may not have been intended as comedies,but they out did any 'legit' comedy in terms of major laugh value....
Color of Night
&
Species 2
No film in the past decade has made me laugh more than those two. Hollywood really needs to get their act together with comedies,as they are failing big time in providing honest legit laughs.
06-27-04 | 03:38 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
I think Hollywood has forgotten how to make real funny comedies and rely on going for forced humor,rather than actually attempting to be funny.
The Girl Next Door. Jersey Girl. Saved. Broken Lizard's Club Dread. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Eurotrip. Mean Girls. Each of those seven films came out this year (2004) and each one was hilarious in it's own way.
Hey, you can even look at 2003: Cabin Fever. Camp. Bad Santa. Love Actually. American Wedding. Bend It Like Beckham. Cheats. A Mighty Wind. 100 Women. Bubba Ho-Tep. Old School. Final Destination 2. Sol Goode. All hilarious films that Hollywood put out too.
Comedy is subjective, but every year, Hollywood does put out quite a few (actually) funny films.
06-27-04 | 07:46 PM
#24
Classic. It has a lot of nostalgia for me. I saw it at a sneak preview when I was in high school and had friends just like the ones Jim had. Its not the funniest movie but I still think it was great. Its one of those "you had to live it" type films.
