AMERICAN REUNION

This guy makes the movie and drinks

title: AMERICAN REUNION
year: 2012
cast: Jason Biggs, Sean William Scott
rating: ***

AMERICAN REUNION can make a forty-something feel pretty damn old. The original classic was homage to the sex comedies of the 1980s, a celebration of an era long past, and now the ‘90s are nostalgic. Plot centers on the obvious but this has little to do with the reunion itself. Unlike the sequels, the whole gang’s back this time. Jim’s still married to Michelle with a baby boy and both seek their own form of – let’s call it personal pleasure. Their sex life has hit the skids while the overly nice and now bearded Kevin’s marriage is just fine, except when Vicky’s around. Oz is a semi famous sportscaster who did a reality TV dance more embarrassing than Jim’s viral video, and his old flame Heather’s got a successful doctor as a boyfriend. Sleepy-eyed Finch claims to be an adventurous journeyman while the fan favorite, Stifler, despite working an office job still loves to party. And he wants his grownup buddies to return to their old ways, first at a lake replete with high school chicks – including a sexpot Jim once babysat who wants him worse than he wanted pie – and then at his house party where Jim’s dad hooks up with Stifler’s mother. And with the running around not much really happens; that is, if scene-stealer Scott isn't paving the way. The jokes are either dull or overboard (keeping up with the Apatow), and most of the characters seem like sticks in the mud (i.e. adults) except Stifler who, reveling as the scene-stealing jester, eventually has to grow up. Shannon Elizabeth, Natasha Lyonne and "The Shermanator" provide unnecessary cameos. And while there’s a relaxing quality seeing all the kids back together, they need something to lose – like the first time around.