The American Pie Movies

The American Pie movies are quite possibly my favourite teen films of all time. The first three movies are absolutely excellent and over the years I've watched them all on many an occasion. Right from the very first time I watched the original 'American Pie' the series had me hooked: I love the movie, it's possibly the best of the three and all of the main characters I absolutely adore. The characters are so well put across, Stifler was always my favourite but all of them are just absolutely excellent. A lot of time clearly went into choosing the characters for the original American Pie movie; they're all excellent and in direct contrast to one another are those of Jim and Stifler. Whilst Jim is the straight one of the group, Stifler is the pure comedy guy and it is this supreme contrast in character types which provides for many of the films major laughs.

The following is the original gang of friends (complete with their female interests):

- Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs)
- Chris 'Oz' Ostreicher (Chris Klein)
- Kevin Myers (Thomas Ian Nicholas)
- Paul Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas)
- Steven Stifler (Sean William Scott)
- Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth)
- Michelle Flaherty (Alyson Hannigan)
- Vicky Lathum (Tara Reid)
- Heather (Mena Suvari)
- Stifler's Mom (Jennifer Coolidge)

Jim, Oz, Kevin and Finch are the main group of friends; Stifler is the guy that they all hang around with from time to time as he has a lot of parties, they don't particularly like him however and merely tolerate him for the perks of his having a rich family. The main group of four in the first film agree on pact; they're in their last year of high-school and all agree that by graduation they'll had had sex. It is here that they all quite unsuccessfully set about finding partners, dates for the prom, and partners to bed at Stifler's graduation partner.

Jim has an interest in Nadia, he does however blow it (twice); ultimately he ends up with band camp girl Michelle, it's Nadia that he really likes however and she becomes "the one that got away". Kevin has a steady girlfriend in the form of Vicky, the big test for him now however is to sleep with her; all his friends are egging him on to do so, and feeling the pressure from his friends he starts to make moves forward in order to try to sleep with his partner before they graduate. Oz starts attending choir practise in an attempt to attract the interest of Heather; Finch however plays it call and chases after no-one; Finch ultimately ends up sleeping with Stifler's Mom, much to the disgust and annoyance of Stifler.

The first film is all about leaving high-school, growing up, and coming of age. They're all off to different colleges across the country and this is the last time that they'll all be together as high-school seniors. It's their last full summer together and as such they're all looking to make the most of it. The first film is basically all about the four main teens sexual journey into adulthood; they're soon to be off to college, and they wish to make sure that they're all sexually experienced before they go.

The second film then follows on from their last summer together as high school seniors; they're now college freshers and once more it's the summer. They've got big plans to go on a beach holiday this summer, make the most of being together again by holidaying away at the sea. Not a lot has changed for the teenagers, it's basically just a continuation of the first film but this time in a different location. Jim has quite an issue however; Nadia is coming back to town, does he however now hold feelings for band geek Michelle? Will it be beauty or the geek as Jim now has to spend the summer thinking about which of them it is that he wants? I hate to spoil it for you here if you don't already know; but the third movie is called American Wedding (American Pie: The Wedding) and tells the story of the teenagers furthered maturity and Jim's marriage to Michelle. In the third and final film they're now beginning to grow up and all taking major steps in their lives; even Stifler is maturing. The first film is about coming of age and becoming 'men', with American Wedding is where they really become men however and the movie at which the five teen friends finally grow up and become adults.

The first three films are classics, later however came the not so impressive 'American Pie Presents' spin-off series and the following are all the American Pie films to have been released to date:

- American Pie (1999)
- American Pie 2 (2001)
- American Wedding (2003)
- American Pie Presents Band Camp (2005)
- American Pie Presents The Naked Mile (2006)
- American Pie Presents Beta House (2007)

It's the first three films in the series that are the very best; the true American Pie movies and the ones which demand to be watched the most. The 'Presents' series which followed is not so great; Beta House is a good movie, I've not seen The Naked Mile but it's meant to be similar to Beta House, and Band Camp is just a bit rubbish. The first three films are the only ones to feature the original group of friends; Jim's Dad (played by Eugene Levy) is the only character to appear in all six films, even he fails to save forth film Band Camp however.

To me American Pie will always be about the adventures of Jim, Oz, Kevin, Finch, and Stifler; there are of course a few other important characters in each of the first three films, these are the ones that I love the most however and the characters which I personally perceive to be the most important. They're all great characters and each of them are developed magnificently well throughout the first three American Pie feature films.

Paul Weitz/Chris Weitz directed the first film, James B. Rogers the second, and Jesse Dylan the third; full credit must surely go out to all of these directors for providing the three films of the fine teen comedy franchise that is American Pie. If you've never before seen the American Pie movies then my best advice is to invest in the American Pie Triple Boxset which features the first three films in the series; it's an absolutely excellent original trilogy and one that all should watch and in fact own.

The following are my thoughts on all of the American Pie movies to have been released to date: