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Jim and Michelle have grown up and are getting married. Michelle's
gorgeous sister, Cadence, flies in to be maid of honour, and
when Stifler and Finch catch sight of her, they battle for
her affections. Stifler opts for a gentlemanly approach, leaving
Finch with no choice but to play the philanderer. Who will
Cadence choose? Jim and Michelle have bigger problems to deal
with, including disparaging relatives, dancing lessons, a
naughty maid, a sexy female cop and a hairy wedding cake...
It's
funny, isn't it, how comedies seem to have more of a tendency
to be renamed when crossing the Atlantic to Britain than any
other movie genre, especially when American Pie cast
members are involved? Winter Break became Snow Job,
Van Wilder lost its National Lampoon's prefix,
and now American Wedding (as you will hear it referred
to in the special features) is given the more explanatory
title of American Pie - The Wedding. Perhaps this was
done to prevent it from being lost amid the spate of recent
American Something-titled movies, the latest of which
is American Splendor.
But
I digress.
The
important thing is: does this film live up to its predecessors?
Many critics have bemoaned the fact that several former cast
members are missing this time around, including Chris Klein
(alias Oz), Shannon Elizabeth (Nadia), Tara Reid (Vicky) and
Mena Suvari (Heather). However, all of these actors were underused
in the second movie, lumbered with roles that were contrived
into the plot and didn't really do their characters justice.
I think it's better to dispense with them altogether than
to have them around just for the sake of it. Some cameo appearances
at the wedding itself might have been a nice touch, though.
Rest
assured that Eugene Levy, as Jim's dad, arguably the funniest
character of the entire ensemble, is present and as hilarious
as ever.
One of the remaining characters is unfortunately wasted, as
Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) gets very little to do, but by
way of compensation we are introduced to several new people.
These include Michelle's (Buffy's Alyson Hannigan)
snooty parents (Deborah Rush and Fred Willard) and Jim's (Jason
Biggs) even more miserable grandmother (Angela Paton). Then
there is the lovely January Jones as Cadence, who excites
the interests of both Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and Stifler
(Seann William Scott), leading to many of the movie's best
scenes as the two antagonists steal each other's tactics to
try and win her over. Stifler's efforts to impress Cadence
and her family also result in what is probably the series'
grossest scene yet, when he has to eat something very unpleasant
indeed. He also, amazingly, gets in touch with his sensitive
side!
The
movie released on DVD and video is an extended version of
what was seen in cinemas, incorporating extra footage of the
bachelor party arranged by Stifler, in which Nikki Schieler
Ziering and Amanda Swisten play strippers. This scene alone
makes American Pie - The Wedding the raunchiest in
the series!
Further
deleted or extended scenes are to be found among the special
features, as well as out-takes, and behind-the-scenes footage
of the bachelor party, Jim's "special haircut" and the creation
and realisation of the enduringly popular Stifler. There are
also two audio commentaries, the first by Seann William Scott
and director Jesse Dylan, the second by the other leading
cast members.
The Wedding isn't as funny or as touching as the original
American Pie, but it comes a close second and is certainly
an improvement on American Pie 2.
Richard
McGinlay
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