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American Reunion

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American Reunion
Group picture of the cast. Alyson Hannigan has a baby bottle in hand. The pie has only a small slice left.
Theatrical poster that mirrors the original 1999 American Pie movie poster
Directed byJon Hurwitz
Hayden Schlossberg
Screenplay byJon Hurwitz
Hayden Schlossberg
Produced byChris Moore
Craig Perry
Warren Zide
StarringJason Biggs
Alyson Hannigan
Chris Klein
Thomas Ian Nicholas
Eddie Kaye Thomas
Tara Reid
Seann William Scott
Mena Suvari
CinematographyDaryn Okada[1]
Edited byJeff Betancourt[1]
Music byLyle Workman
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • 5 April 2012 (2012-04-05)
Running time
113 minutes
CountryTemplate:Film US
LanguageEnglish
Budget$50 million[2]
Box office$215,948,605[2]

American Reunion (also known as American Pie: Reunion in certain countries[3]) is a 2012 comedy film written and directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. It is the eighth installment in the American Pie film series overall and the fourth in the original storyline of American Pie (1999), American Pie 2 (2001) and American Wedding (2003). The film was theatrically released on 5 April (Europe, Australia and Asia Pacific) and 6 April (North America), 2012 by Universal Pictures and Relativity Media.

Plot

Thirteen years after graduating high school, Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs), Chris "Oz" Ostreicher (Chris Klein), Kevin Myers (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Paul Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), and Steve Stifler (Seann William Scott) have moved on with adult life and responsibilities. Jim is married to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) and they have a two-year-old son, Evan. Oz is an NFL sportscaster living in Los Angeles with his supermodel girlfriend Mia (Katrina Bowden). Kevin is married to Ellie and works from home as an architect. Finch has supposedly gone missing, and Stifler works as a temp at an investment firm.

When former classmate John (John Cho), the latter half of the 'MILF' duo, organizes a "Class of 1999" high school reunion in East Great Falls, Jim and Michelle arrive at Jim's old home, where his father Noah (Eugene Levy) is now a widower. Jim encounters his neighbor Kara (Ali Cobrin), who he used to babysit and is soon to turn 18. Jim meets up with Oz, Kevin and Finch at a bar, where they meet Selena (Dania Ramirez), a former classmate and Michelle's friend from band camp. Stifler unknowingly happens across the group, and joins them for weekend activities.

The next day, the group goes to the beach. Oz meets his high school girlfriend, Heather (Mena Suvari), who is dating a heart surgeon named Ron (Jay Harrington), while Kevin reconnects with Vicky (Tara Reid). The guys have an altercation with Kara's boyfriend A.J. (Chuck Hittinger) and his friends, which ends with Stifler defecating in their beer cooler and destroying their jet skis. That night, the guys and girls, minus Michelle, go to the falls where they encounter a high school party celebrating Kara's birthday. Jim is forced to drive an intoxicated Kara home, who tries to seduce him. Oz, Finch, and Stifler come help Jim secretly return Kara back home past her parents, but A.J. spots them sneaking out. A hungover Kevin wakes up in a bed next to Vicky naked and assumes they had sex.

The next day, Stifler tries to throw a party like in high school, but finds everyone else has outgrown this. Jim and Michelle, who have been having a lackluster sex life, attend with a plan to recreate their prom night. They bring Noah to help him out of his depression, who becomes intoxicated and encounters Stifler's mother Jeanine (Jennifer Coolidge). Kevin confronts Vicky about the night before, but she discloses it was not sexual and is upset that he would assume such a thing. Mia takes ecstasy while Ron humiliates Oz by showing a DVD of his loss as a contestant on Celebrity Dance-Off. When Heather goes to comfort Oz, they attempt to rekindle their previous relationship, but are interrupted by Mia, who gets in a fight with Heather. Jim and Michelle decide to role play, but Jim is confronted by Kara trying to seduce him again, followed by a hostile A.J. and his friends. The two conflicting groups have a fight on the front lawn, which is disrupted by police officers, who arrest Finch for stealing a motorcycle.

Mia leaves Oz, Stifler decides skip the reunion for work, and Michelle goes to her grandmother's. When Jim tells his father about their lack of sex, he is told they need to make time for each other. At the reunion, Finch admits that he is an assistant manager at Staples and stole the motorcycle from his boss when he didn't receive a raise that was promised. The boys get Stifler, who quits his job and attends the reunion. Kevin reconciles with Vicky, Finch gets together with Selena, Oz reunites with Heather, and Jim reconciles with Michelle. Stifler is asked to be a party planner for a wedding for his former lacrosse mates and meets Finch's mother Rachel (Rebecca De Mornay) who proceeds to have sex with him on the football field. As this goes on, John is reunited with his estranged buddy, Justin (Justin Isfeld) and together they look on and chant their signature word 'MILF' over and over again.

The next morning, the friends gather at Dog Years, where Jim encounters Kara and both apologize for their behavior. Oz plans to stay in town with Heather, Finch plans a trip with Selena to Europe, and Stifler plays coy about Finch's mom. They all agree to gather once a year to catch up. Elsewhere, Noah and Jeanine are at a movie where Jeanine performs fellatio on him.

Cast

Main
American Pie Reunion Cast, at the Harry's Cafe de Wheels in Sydney 2012.
Supporting
  • Katrina Bowden as Mia; Oz's girlfriend, an "L.A. party girl type".[4]
  • Jay Harrington as Ron; Heather's boyfriend who is a doctor[5]
  • Ali Cobrin as Kara; "the cutest senior in high school looking for the perfect guy to give her virginity to".[5]
  • Chuck Hittinger as AJ; "a jock and a bully who takes his girlfriend Kara for granted".[6]
  • Zane Wind as Mitch
  • Charlene Amoia as Ellie Myers; Kevin's wife[7]
  • Vik Sahay as Prateek Duraiswamy; Stifler's boss[8]
  • Kim Wall as Susan, Kara's Mom
  • George Christopher Bianchi as Evan
  • Pam Green as Ali
  • Benjamin Arthur as Chester[9]
Cameo Appearances

Production

Development

It was reported in October 2008 that Universal Pictures was planning to produce a third theatrically released sequel to the first film.[10] In April 2010, the film entered pre-production, with Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg signing on to write and direct with plans of reuniting the whole cast of the primary series.[11]

Casting

In March 2011, it was also announced that Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott and Eugene Levy had signed on to reprise their roles.[12] Biggs and Scott were granted executive producer credits and also helped convince the other previous cast members to return.[13] In April 2011, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein and Mena Suvari signed on.[14][15][16] The following month, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Eddie Kaye Thomas,[17] Shannon Elizabeth,[18] and Jennifer Coolidge[19] signed on. In June and July 2011, John Cho[20] and Natasha Lyonne[21] were the last returning cast to sign on.

On May 18, 2011, a casting call went out for the character "Kara", a role that involved "upper frontal nudity".[22] New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has a cameo.[23][24]

Filming

On a budget of $50 million,[2] principal photography took place from early June to August 2011 in metro Atlanta, Georgia.[18][25] In late June, filming took place at Conyers, Monroe and Woodruff Park.[24][26] Production filmed at Newton High School in Covington from July 11 to July 15. Scenes were filmed at the school's gym for a reunion prom set, football field, commons area and hallways; which included 200 extras. Under the deal the production company paid $10,000 to the Newton County School System for using the school.[26]

During the last week of July, production moved to Cumming to film at Mary Alice Park on Lake Lanier and included about 100 extras.[27] Moore said the beach at the lake looks similar to a Lake Michigan setting, which is the state in which the film is set. The production company paid $23,000 to have full access to the property for a week.[27] Suvari finished filming her scenes on August 4.[28]

Release

Box office

The movie opened domestically on April 6 in 3,192 theaters for a weekend total of $21,514,080, putting it at number 2 at the box office behind The Hunger Games.[29] On its second week of release it dropped to number 5 at the box office with a weekend total of $10,473,810.

As of May 22, 2012, the film has grossed $56,525,405 in North America and $159,400,000 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $215,948,605.[2]

Reception

The film has received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 43% based on 162 reviews and an average rating of 5.1/10, with the consensus being "It'll provide sweetly nostalgic comfort food for fans of the franchise, but American Reunion fails to do anything truly new or interesting -- or even very funny -- with the characters."[30]

According to Roger Ebert:[31]

The charm of American Pie was the relative youth and naivete of the characters. It was all happening for the first time, and they had the single-minded obsession with sex typical of many teenagers. American Reunion has a sense of déjà vu, but it still delivers a lot of nice laughs. Most of them for me came thanks to Stifler....If you liked the earlier films, I suppose you gotta see this one. Otherwise, I dunno.

The Village Voice concludes its review with the following:[32]

After some strained 'Remember the time . . .' callbacks to 13-year-old gags, American Reunion gets comfortable and funny, as Hurwitz and Schlossberg hit familiar marks from unexpected angles, while the ensemble interplay is "routine" in the best sense of the word. Taken altogether, the Pie movies offer a cohesive worldview, showing each of life's stages as the setting for fresh-yet-familiar catastrophes, relieved by a belief in sex, however ridiculous it might look, as a restorative force. The recipe is so durable and the sustained character work so second-skin by now, one can imagine the Pie films keeping with the dramatis personae through middle age and into the problems of geriatric love, a raunch-comic version of Britain's documentary Up series. American Midlife Crisis? American Retirement? American Funeral? Let's go!

Nick Schager of Slant magazine gave the film (two stars out of four); he thought it was "funnier than its prior two predecessors...Through its gleeful celebration of Stifler and his I-can-beat-you-up-dork attitude, American Reunion at least finds a small way to be both contemporary and disreputable by, essentially, turning itself into the anti-Bully."[33]

References

  1. ^ a b "American Pie 4 (2012)". All Media Guide (published by The New York Times). Retrieved July 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d "American Reunion". Box Office Mojo. IMDB. Retrieved May 23, 2012. Cite error: The named reference "budget" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ "American Pie: Reunion". Odeon Cinemas. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  4. ^ Kroll, Justin (May 25, 2011). "Bowden completes 'American Reunion' cast". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved May 26, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (June 3, 2011). "Two More Join 'American Reunion' Cast". Deadline.com. Mail.com Media. Retrieved July 9, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  6. ^ McNary, Dave (June 2, 2011). "Hittinger swipes last slice of 'Pie'". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved June 3, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  7. ^ Kroll, Justin (July 1, 2011). "Players". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved July 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  8. ^ Kit, Borys (June 3, 2011). "'Chuck' Star Vik Sahay Joins 'American Reunion' Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "American Pie 4 (2012)". All Media Guide (published by The New York Times). Retrieved July 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Sciretta, Peter (October 28, 2008). "Universal Eyeing American Pie 4? |". /Film. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Moody, Mike (April 2, 2010). "'Kumar' creators for 'American Pie 4'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Grossberg, Josh (March 16, 2011). "New American Pie Sequel in Works—Can It Overcome the Curse of American Pie?". E!. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (October 12, 2011). "All the 'Pie' ingredients are there in 'American Reunion'". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 13, 2011. Retrieved October 13, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Fleming, Mike (April 11, 2011). "Alyson Hannigan Back For 'American Reunion'". Deadline.com. Mail.com Media. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Garcia, Jennifer (April 18, 2011). "Chris Klein Officially Back for More American Pie". People.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Mena excited about American Reunion". Northwich Guardian. Press Association. April 20, 2011. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Semigran, Aly (May 10, 2011). "'American Reunion' gets Thomas Ian Nicholas on board. What other classic '90s teen ensembles do you want to see get back together?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (May 27, 2011). "Reunion On 'American Reunion' Complete: Shannon Elizabeth Signs For Fourquel". Deadline.com. Mail.com Media. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "Jennifer Coolidge Joins American Pie Reunion". Contact Music. May 23, 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Ayres, Tom (June 11, 2011). "John Cho is back for 'American Reunion'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Uddin, Zakia (July 13, 2011). "Natasha Lyonne joins 'American Reunion'". Digital Spy. Hachette Fillipacchi Médias. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Casting Call for American Reunion". ComingSoon.net. CraveOnline. May 18, 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Goldberg, Matt (June 29, 2011). "Football Star Chad Ochocinco to Cameo in AMERICAN REUNION". Collider.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ a b Brett, Jennifer (June 29, 2011). "6/30 Peach Buzz: Action! Filming updates both ITP and OTP". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 30, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "Bye, Bye American Pie". The Newton Citizen. August 13, 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ a b Floyd, Michelle (June 25, 2011). "NHS to be location in 'American Pie' movie". The Newton Citizen. Archived from the original on June 25, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ a b "Crews film 'American Pie Reunion' scenes at Lanier". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. August 1, 2011. Archived from the original on August 3, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "Mena Suvari — Mena Suvari Curious About Pie Return". Contactmusic.com. August 5, 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate=, |date=, and |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ "'Hunger Games' Sinks 'American Reunion,' 'Titanic 3D'". Hollywood Reporter. April 8, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  30. ^ American Reunion Rotten Tomatoes Flixster
  31. ^ Ebert, Roger (April 4, 2012). "American Reunion". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  32. ^ Pinkerton, Nick (April 4, 2012). "The Shelf Life of the Clinton-era Tested in Titanic 3D and American Reunion". The Village Voice. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  33. ^ Schager, Nick (April 4, 2012). "American Reunion". Slant Magazine. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
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