Following the huge success of American Pie, an inevitable sequel, American Pie 2 followed two years later and continued the story a year on from where the original left off. With the next step being college for the main characters, we pick them up at the end of their freshman year as they all return home for the summer. As with the first film, it is all about crude situations and awkward moments and again the film opens with a short but beautifully crafted scene involving Jim and his dad. From the off American Pie 2 feels like being another sure fire winner.
Once the guys have returned home all feeling a bit lost, a party at Stifler’s place is shut down by the police leaving them nowhere to go for fun so Kevin suggests that they rent a beach house in Grand Harbor for the summer. To cover the costs they have to invite Stifler along which inevitably ups the crazy factor by about 100 and once again allows him to drive some of the wilder moments of American Pie 2.
With the main theme of American Pie 2 once again being the sexual awakening of the main cast, their lives have taken different turns throughout the last year. Oz is still with Heather in a long distance relationship, Finch is still obsessing over Stifler’s mum and Kevin is still hung up on Vicky. Jim on the other hand eagerly awaits the arrival of Nadia and enlists the help of Michelle to try and improve his sexual prowess so as not to be so much of a disappointment this time. Cue a trip to band camp and a hilarious mix up where a dazed Jim is mistaken for a retarded trombone playing special guest and does his best to play along to a packed amphitheatre.
To make ends meet the boys take on jobs as painters and decorators and find themselves working at a house owned by supposed lesbians. Busted breaking in they get involved in a game of ‘you go, I’ll go’ to get the girls to pleasure each other in return for them pleasuring one another. Eventually with Stifler whipping it out ready to ‘take one for the team’ it is too much for Finch and Jim to bear who run screaming from the house. This marks American Pie 2’s most memorable and hilarious scene.
Back at the rented house Stifler redresses the heterosexual balance by dishing out pornos to everyone which leads to Jim mixing up lube and superglue with the expected result. The resulting medical assistance damages Jim’s hopes of sleeping with Nadia who is due in a matter of days, as is Stifler’s mum according to Finch.
With the final act of American Pie 2 culminating at an end of summer blowout party, this time it is more about each of the main characters finding their rightful person or place rather than getting laid. The problem with this is that it is rather anti-climactic in comparison to the original and there is a lot less to care about.
Failing to reach the heights of the first film, American Pie 2 tries hard and does a good job of picking up the story and running with it. It lacks some of the charm of the first film and with Oz and Kevin largely redundant, only Jim and Finch are left to root for, and Stifler to laugh at. He once again provides much of the comedy but it is Jim’s dad who is again the stand out supporting player despite being under utilized this time around. Whilst standing in the shadow of the first, American Pie 2 is still a good film in its own right and again spawned a further installment due to its success.
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