'AMERICAN REUNION'

'AMERICAN REUNION' (R) (3 STARS)

Written and Directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg
Actors: Jason Biggs, Sean William Scott, Alyson Hannigan, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Jennifer Coolidge, Eugene Levy, Chris Klein, Mena Suvari

"American Pie" was a game changer back in 1999. It was one of those movies that seemed like it was going to be bad. It surprised us with it's very funny jokes and writing mixed with heart. That mix is still there grounded by a very sweet and touching father/son story. The laughs of course are not as fresh as the original's because we have seen countless "American Pie" sequels and copies including the classic "Superbad". That being said, I laughed enough, groaned a few times and I love one of the subplots of the movie which made the movie better for me.

It was great seeing our old friends back together again and the cast especially the actors we don't see anymore. There is the obnoxious and vulgar Stiffler who I think actually just wants to be loved and held. There is the original's heart and lead character Jim and his father and also Jim's wife Michelle who Jim married in "American Wedding". The whole cast of characters are back for a high school reunion. Jim's father is now a widower and Jim is having sex problemns with Michelle. There are also some surprises and big laughs and some jokes that miss. Though this is definitely an improvement on the last two sequels but of course not as great as the original because a lot of the jokes don't surprise us.

The selling point of "American Reunion" are the friendships of all these friends who don't get to see each other often. Alyson Hannigan is extremely cute. Sean William Scott is goofy and obnoxious but somehow charming and funny. Jason Biggs is again the great heart of the movie and there is a very funny subplot where Jim gets involved with the girl he used to babysit who is now just turning 18. The funniest jokes involve that plot with the girl and Jim's friends getting involved with the girl and her boyfriend and her boyfriend's preppy, jerk friends.

That stuff is funny but the main reason I can recommend this good, funny movie is for one particular pairing. Stiffler's mother is back played by the wonderful Jennifer Coolidge and Jim's father is played by the wonderful Eugene Levy. The two characters will hook up and their being together is charming, sweet and very funny. I loved that the movie concentrated on this relationship as much as it did. It is heartfelt and made me smile and seeing Jennifer Coolidge and Eugene Levy, both from Christopher Guest's comedy troupe, work so well together is priceless in this movie.

Don't rush out too soon when the end credits start to roll because Levy and Coolidge have a scene then that is the best and funniest scene in the movie. I am screaming now for these writers to make a spin off movie based on these two! "American Reunion" is warm and engaging, spending time with good friends getting in trouble again and having a good time.

P.S. It is also good to see Natasha Lyonne and Chris Klein back, two good actors we don't see that much anymore.