What an aberration!

Robert Hayes, Chase Krepp.
Director: Hurviez Schosberg
Cinema: Easthgate
Type of film: Romantic comedy
Running time: 118 minutes
Age restriction: Adults only
By Prof Joel White
Of the film “American Pie: Reunion”, which runs for just under two hours, it is tempting to say that it is too long “ by just under two hours”.
With this film we have the dregs of Hollywood humour, which I had gladly come to believe had been consigned to Hollywood’s past. Wedded to Hollywood’s freedom to depict sexual escapades with virtually no limitations, it can only be hoped that this film is an aberration and not an indication of what is to come.

“American Pie: Reunion” is set in America’s Deep South, in the small town of Monroe, in the admittedly backward State of Georgia; a state which many Americans believe has never accepted that the south lost the 19th century’s civil war over slavery. The film centres around a high school’s reunion of those who graduated in 1999. We focus on six male graduates who are now 30 years of age, only one of whom, Jim (Jason Biggs) is married and a father; who, ill advisedly, brings the spouse and offspring to the reunion.

While in town Jim has a further reunion with his widowed father, played by the well-aged actor Eugene Levy. It is in conjunction with this reunion that the film seriously descends into the depths of poor taste as the question of their religion they are Jews is referred to in explaining their alleged bizarre sexual inclinations.

The film abounds with nudity and sexual license, with all the females depicted in no other mode than as foils for whatever the males seek from them. A large and very disappointing step backward in Hollywood’s claim to depict our current social views accurately. The film abounds with both male and female nudity and the crudest references to urination defecation, and vomiting with the audience forced to witness these in full display. Interestingly, and regrettably, the film makes no effort to show us how the lives of the chosen six have evolved in the dozen years since they were last together. Altogether, a film, which places in denial Hollywood’s claim to have grown up.