American Reunion

Movie Review: «American Reunion».

English Title: American Reunion.
Production: USA, 2012.
Release Date: 06.04.2012 (USA).
Russian Distributor: UPI (05.04.2012).
Official Website:
Genre: Comedy (R).
Directors: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg.
Starring: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott, Tara Reid.
Running Time: 120 minutes.

Class of ’99 getting back to Party

6th April marks the start of the main Comedy attraction for the Spring of 2012, and it is entitled American Reunion – Review of the Film here brings up the story about the intriguing sequel released 13 years since the original story featuring all the same cast.

The American Pie (1999) film has earned a lot for its on-screen frankness. The total gross reached 235 mln. USD worldwide after a modest budget of 11 mln. USD was spent to make it. The script, meanwhile, showed nearly no modesty at all, and this comedy at that time became one of the pioneers in the genre of modern adult entertainment with being R-rated. In other words, its authors did not cut out all the naughty scenes in favor of expanding the target audience and left everything intact in the movie, which soon gained a lot of fans and even became a cultulral cult. It has helped to grow the vision of some directors, and the new release in the series was made to surpass all the former achievements.

The main franchise American Pie (1999-2012) was developed in the form of the classic Trilogy that is now expanded with the American Reunion (2012) movie coming out turning it into the Quadrilogy. The first sequel, American Pie 2 (2001), dared to increase the budget nearly three times more, while the revenues rose up to 287 mln. USD leading to the further increase in the Fan base. Two years later the authors have launched another sequel named American Wedding (2003). Western Reviews were very careful, while not showing much optimism regarding the franchise, though its success was mainly based on the Fans attitude, who were keen to buy tickets, see the film in the cinemas or even buy or rent it on DVD, what in turn made it a Box Office success.

The third part made Jim Levenstein played by Jason Biggs marry his beloved girlfriend, Michelle Flaherty, performed by Alyson Hannigan. The costs then reached almost 55 mln. USD, though the revenue fell by nearly 15%. The film was more fast-paced, but this time the franchise managed to lose several original actors working with the second plan roles, as well as a part of its original atmosphere to some.

Subsequently, Universal Pictures has made the right marketing approach, when the series has got a home video spin-off for the fans to make it unforgettable. The Box Office revenues coming after the American Reunion release will surely demonstrate that too, when the film comes out on 6th of April, 2012. Here on the Russian market these home video additional movies were released only on DVD starting with American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005) and American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (2006).

After these two more came out, including American Pie Presents: Beta House (2007) and American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009), which were centered around about Stifler’s younger relatives. The new team of their creators tried to experiment, while not spending much. With these movies the budget never exceeded 10-15 mln. USD, while the sales were able to bring almost all of the same money back sometimes even with the additional revenues.

Jim has to choose between wife Michelle and a much younger Kara

Read on further to the production story of American Reunion.