American Pie (1999)

Initially pitched by screenwriter Adam Herz (rather unpromisingly) as “Untitled Teenage Sex Comedy That Can Be Made For Under $10 Million”, this laughter-packed comedy about four Michigan high school seniors – Jim (Jason Biggs), Oz (Chris Klein), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) – who pledge to lose their virginity in the three remaining weeks before prom night has enough crass gags to satisfy the most demanding fans of Porky’s-style farces.

Yet it also boasts some spot-on performances from a hip young cast that includes Chris Klein, Mena Suvari and Tara Reid.

Geeky flautist Michelle (a scene-stealing Alyson Hannigan) proves definitively that first impressions are, indeed, deceiving, while Natasha Lyonne plays Jessica with a tart-tongued aplomb that keeps the boys in line.

There are grosser moments in the film (Stifler drinking a jizz-fizzed beer for starters), but the title refers to one of the more eye-widening sequences, in which Jim sinks himself into a freshly baked apple pie (he’s been told it’s the closest approximation to getting to third base).

In the film’s highlight, Jim secretly videotapes the naked foreign exchange student Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) for broadcast to his pals on the internet – and ends up exposing himself as the poster boy for premature ejaculation.

This is definitely not a movie to show granny, but must-see fare for those not easily offended.

Jim Levenstein
Jason Biggs
Chris “Oz” Ostreicher
Chris Klein
Jessica
Natasha Lyonne
Kevin Myers
Thomas Ian Nicholas
Vicky
Tara Reid
Heather
Mena Suvari
Jim’s Dad
Eugene Levy
Paul Finch
Eddie Kaye Thomas
Stifler
Seann William Scott
Stifler’s Mom
Jennifer Coolidge
Michelle Flaherty
Alyson Hannigan
Nadia
Shannon Elizabeth

Director
Paul Weitz

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