REVIEWS

American Pie
June 27, 1999 http://www.etonline.com

Head back to high school where hormones rage and hilarity reigns in the raunchy teen sex comedy, 'American Pie.'

Teens and sex. As compatible as peanut butter and jelly, and as American as, well, apple pie. The teen sex comedy has been conspicuously absent from the big screen since its golden age in the '80s, when 'Porky's' and 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' were quoted daily in high school halls. But now, with the popularity of such teen- and sex-oriented TV programs as "Dawson's Creek" and "Beverly Hills, 90210," the teen sex farce is ready for a comeback in 'American Pie.'

Producers WARREN ZIDE ('The Big Hit'), CRAIG PERRY and CHRIS MOORE ('Good Will Hunting') turned to first-time screenwriter ADAM HERZ to pen what they envisioned as a return to raucous comedy focusing on teens and their libidos. The trio then brought on the brother team of producer CHRIS WEITZ and director PAUL WEITZ, both also first-timers, to put their baby on the big screen. And, just as the producers, writer and director are all fresh faces, 'American Pie' features an ensemble cast of young up-and-coming talent.

Jim (JASON BIGGS of "As The World Turns") is a healthy, red-blooded teenage virgin. In other words, he's desperate. After his parents walk in on him while watching a porno film, Jim's father (comedy veteran EUGENE LEVY from 'Waiting for Guffman') begins to take an active part in his son's sexual education, much to Jim's horror. After a disastrous experience on-line with beautiful foreign exchange student Nadia (SHANNON ELIZABETH, "Arli$$"), Jim tries his luck with chatty high school flautist Michelle (ALYSON HANNIGAN, Willow on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer").

Meanwhile, Jim's buddy Kevin (THOMAS IAN NICHOLAS, 'Rookie of the Year') tries to please his steady girlfriend, Vicky (TARA REID, 'Urban Legend') by following the advice in a secret handwritten manual of sexual do's and don'ts. And Oz (CHRIS KLEIN, 'Election') -- or Casanova, as he prefers to be called -- sets his sights on Heather (MENA SUVARI, 'Kiss the Girls'), a beautiful co-ed in the choir.

Though Finch (EDDIE KAYE THOMAS, 'The Rage: Carrie 2') already has a reputation as a ladies man, Jessica(NATASHA LYONNE, 'Slums of Beverly Hills'), the voice and sometimes fabricator of reality, knows the real truth. But ever since the cocky Stifler (SEANN W. SCOTT in his feature debut) slipped him a laxative outside the girls' locker room, Finch may never show his face in public again.

While the guys try outrageous approaches to scoring with the female gender, the girls, equally confused, romanticize and idealize what is basically pure physical attraction. The end result is riotous and raunchy comedy.

Help yourself to a slice of 'American Pie,' an affectionate and humorous look at sex in the '90s, when it opens in theaters July 9.