AMERICAN PIE 2

2001

For those of you who don't remember, I wasn't exactly what you'd call a "fan" of the original. In fact, I thought it was highly overrated teen crap. As for the sequel... I loved it. Back is the entire cast, lots more flesh and another plot almost entirely focused on sex. Sounds like a good summer comedy to me. This time, the gang is all back from their first year at college and they've decided to spend the summer at a beach house, working summer jobs and partying every night. Maybe I liked this one better because I could relate to the characters as college students better than high school students, but I'm pretty sure it really had something to do with a much heavier dose of my favorite character, Stifler. Jim and his dad are idiots, Chris Klein is underutilized, Finch is annoying as hell, but Stifler is hilarious. A nice continuation of the 1999 blockbuster.

4 Stars

CDF

A very funny sequel to the original...but the novelty has worn off. Now the same four high school seniors (Jason Biggs, Mena Suvari, Chris Klein and Tara Reid) are college freshmen and as often happens in real life, nothing has changed. Their hormones are still raging, and sex is all they think about. All that's changed is that they drink (not think) more, and their textbooks are bigger! It's the end of their freshmen year, and they decide to rent a beach house for the summer, and you know what happens. Do what I did, if you can. Go with four teen-age friends (ages 15-18,) and you'll get even MORE enjoyment out of what is just an OK copy of what was a TRUE original.

3 Stars

NJB