American Wedding
Originally Written: August 2003
The “American Pie” movies have always had there fair share of gross-out gags. Man screwing pie. Man drinking sperm-filled beer. Man gluing hand to his “member.” However, in the “thrilling climax” of the “American Pie” trilogy was the first gag that threatened me to literally gag, something only a handful of other films (“Van Wilder,” “There’s Something About Mary”) have achieved. In an act of discresion, I’ll not mention what the gag is except to say that like “Van Wilder,” it’s a substance NEVER meant for human consumption. That alone should enough to place this film in with those films unenviable company as the worst films ever, save for two things: 1) what’s supposed to be funny in “Wedding”- at least most of it- is really funny, and 2) the heart that blindsided people about the first film and the likability of the characters- who continue to surprise after three films- make “Wedding” impossible to resist as the summer’s sweetest romantic comedy.
The setup goes as such: after they’ve graduated from college, humiliation magnet Jim (Jason Biggs) asks his band-geek girlfriend Michelle (“Buffy’s” Alyson Hannigan) to marry him. She accepts, but Jim soon learns that that’s the least of his problems. Finding the right dress for Michelle, winning over Michelle’s parents (including “Best in Show’s” Fred Willard as the prospective father-in-law), keeping perpectual jackass Stifler (Seann William Scott)- who gets in a triangle with Finch (Eddie Kay Thomas) for the affections of Michelle’s sister Cadence (January Jones)- at bay, learning to dance, and not letting his perpectual accident-prone nature get the best of him.
Much of the original cast- Chris Klien & Mena Suvari (Oz & Heather), Tara Reid (Vicki), Shannon Elizabeth (Nadia), and Natasha Lyonne (Jessica)- is gone. Thomas Ian Nichols’ Kevin is still around, but has so little to do he might as well be gone as well. It matters not; all the coolest characters- Jim, Michelle, Stifler, Finch, Jim’s dad (the irreplaceable Eugene Levy), and Stifler’s mom (“A Mighty Wind’s” Jennifer Coolidge)- are back for “Wedding.” And it’s a credit to writer Adam Herz- who wrote all three films- that his characters have attracted the acting talent they have (Levy, Coolidge, and Willard are all from Christopher “Waiting for Guffman” Guest’s gifted comedy troup), all of whom seem to really enjoy playing these characters. Levy’s dad is just as understanding and sympathetic as ever (even if his frantic bringing of the engagement ring to Jim in the sweet- yet kinky- proposal scene that starts the movie is ill-timed), and while Willard has noticeably done his best comedic work in Guest’s group, he’s nonetheless an inspired choice for Michelle’s father. Playing the other significant new character in the movie, January Jones- who was in the direct-to-video “Taboo” with Eddie Kay Thomas (Finch) earlier this year- definitely has the looks as a sister that can take the antagonism of Finch and Stifler to a new level, and even surprises with a bathroom-set revelation to Michelle that makes her character a true “Pie” hottie; unfortunately, her character lacks the development of Reid’s Vicki or Suvari’s Heather to make a suitable replacement.
Most reviews of “Wedding” have focused on the fact that Seann William Scott’s Stifler- an inspired comic creation- rips the rug out from the rest of the cast and steals the movie by having the best lines, grossest gags (said gag-inducing incident), and funniest scenes (a dance duel in a gay bar). Fair enough; Stifler’s “Wedding’s” laugh engine, and the script works that as far as it can go, and manages to even give the Stifmeister a happy ending. But if Stifler’s the comic life of the film, Jim and Michelle are the film’s heart.
My blessings to them both. Biggs’ post-“Pie” slate looks promising- the lead in Woody Allen’s “Anything Else,” a role in Kevin Smith’s “Jersey Girl”- and Jim’s always been a sympathetic main character, enduring humiliations that would break a lesser young man, but here, there’s more of a desire to see him overcome the obstacles thrown his way (mostly layed out by Stifler) that comes with the turf of a wedding comedy (sitcom or movie). His desire to give Michelle a wedding she’ll remember- as opposed to one she’ll want to forget- is palpable.
Michelle deserves it from where I’m sitting. More so for me than Stifler, Hannigan’s Michelle- quite possibly my favorite movie character of all-time- is an inspired character, a flute-playing band geek who went from on-the-fringes scene-stealer (“American Pie”)- and presented the surprise of the movie with two immortal lines- to co-conspirator with Jim in his sexual maturation (“American Pie 2”), acting as both the cliched comic sidekick (think Rosie O’Donnell in “Sleepless in Seattle” meets Jack Black in “High Fidelity”) and potential love interest- replacing Reid and Suvari from the first film as the “leading lady” of the series- at the same time. In “Wedding,” there shouldn’t be any mistakes as to who’s the girl. Hannigan- whose run as “Buffy’s” resident sweetie ended with the show’s series finale (though don’t discount future guest spots on “Angel” or possible spin-offs), and is actually preparing for her own wedding to “Angel’s” Alexis Denisof- makes Michelle a unique and irresistible blend of Meg Ryan sweetness and teen comedy kinkiness, but also makes her nervous bride anxiety endearingly moving. She also is involved with the movie’s best moments- the proposal (a moment both perversely funny and romantic); an intimate scene with Jim where she says why the wedding means so much her; a montage with Jim when it seems all hope for an ideal wedding is gone; a scene with Jim’s dad when she’s having a hard time with her vows where Jim’s dad defines love as only he can; and finally, the first dance between the happy couple (what, did you really think they wouldn’t get married?). The one complaint? No “And this one time, at band camp…” in front of her relaying of the story to her parents? Critics may not want to admit it, but I will- the leading ladies of comedy- Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Aniston, Renee Zellweger, Sandra Bullock, and Reese Witherspoon- have some more company.
Well, that’s it for the “American Pie” saga. It didn’t end on the highest of notes (though the final moments are priceless), but there are worse alternatives (many of which we’ve seen this summer), and how many series’ really do? The things/people that stood out the most- Alyson Hannigan, Eugene Levy, the intelligence and likability of the characters, Seann William Scott, Jason Biggs, the warmth of the stories- made the low points- the less tolerable moments- worth sitting through. It was an unexpected pleasure watching these characters come to life, and learn to live.
“American Pie” (1999)- A-
“American Pie 2” (2001)- B+
“American Wedding” (2003)- B-
