American Pie actor Jason Biggs has opened up about his intense battle with drug addiction, sharing a particularly dark moment from his twenties when he repeatedly retrieved cocaine from garbage bins. The 47-year-old actor made these revelations during a recent appearance on Arielle Lorre’s Well podcast. 584r1e

According to Hindustan Times, Biggs detailed a troubling incident that occurred at 4 a.m. while his wife, Jenny Mollen, was asleep upstairs in their Los Angeles home. After doing what he intended to be his final line of cocaine, Biggs attempted multiple times to dispose of the remaining drugs, only to retrieve them repeatedly from various trash containers. His story echoes other celebrity struggles, similar to moments when stars have publicly hit “rock bottom” before finding recovery.

The actor recalled the moment when reality struck him during this cycle of disposal and retrieval. “I was like, ‘What the fuck am I doing? This is absolutely insane,” he said, describing how he had climbed into his own trash bin to recover the cocaine after taking Ambien.

The actor’s journey from Los Angeles to sobriety in New York 345t70

The situation escalated when Biggs drove around Los Angeles, disposing of the cocaine in a stranger’s trash can inside a discarded coffee cup. However, he returned to retrieve it once again, itting that he knew he would finish the entire bag despite his attempts to dispose of it.

Biggs acknowledged that his unwillingness to permanently dispose of the drugs by flushing them down the toilet was a clear sign of his addiction. He described this experience as being “very close to rock bottom.” He’s ed other public figures who, while struggling with substance abuse, eventually chose recovery and used their stories to help others.

The actor credits his recovery largely to his relocation from Los Angeles to New York, stating that the energy of New York filled a void that Los Angeles couldn’t. Despite experiencing a relapse seven and a half years ago, Biggs has maintained his sobriety since 2017, which coincided with the birth of his second son.

In 2018, Biggs celebrated his first year of sobriety with an Instagram post, expressing pride in his achievement while acknowledging the difficulty of the journey. He revealed that his initial attempts to get sober began over five years prior when his substance abuse became overwhelming. The actor concluded with a message of hope for others struggling with addiction, encouraging them to seek help without shame.

Actor Jason Biggs has spoken openly about his battle with cocaine addiction, describing a terrifying low point where he dug through a garbage can to recover drugs he had thrown away. The star of American Pie, who became famous early in his career thanks to the popular movie series, shared his story on the Well with Arielle Lorre podcast. He gave a clear and honest of how deep his addiction went and how hard it was to recover.

As found by Page Six, Biggs explained how he kept falling into the same pattern of using drugs, feeling regret, and then using again. He would tell himself he was taking his last line of cocaine, throw the rest away, and then, just minutes later, the craving would hit him so strongly that he would go back to retrieve what he had discarded.

This cycle hit its worst point when he actually climbed into his own trash bin to get the cocaine he had thrown out. He said, “One of my craziest stories was, I was doing cocaine by myself in my house, and I did what I said was the last line…. Within 15 minutes, as soon as my last bump is wearing off, I’m like, what am I doing? I go into my trash, and I take it out and I do a line.

Jason Biggs went to rock bottom before he sought help for drug problem 4u6d5c

Biggs’ early rise to fame, thanks to American Pie (due for a reboot) when he was just 22 years old, played a big role in his addiction struggles. He found that being a celebrity made it easy to get drugs because people were willing to give him what he wanted. This easy access made his existing substance abuse problems worse and kept him trapped in a harmful cycle.

The mix of fame, money, and constant access to drugs created the perfect conditions for his addiction to grow. The actor also itted that he hid the full extent of his addiction from his wife, Jenny Mollen, during the early years of their relationship and marriage. While he didn’t go into detail about how he kept it secret, his confession makes it clear that he worked hard to appear normal while fighting his addiction in private.

This kind of behavior is common in severe addiction, showing how isolating it can be and how hard it is for people to it they need help. The lies and secrecy often come from a place of shame and fear as addicts try to shield themselves and their loved ones from the truth.

A major step in Biggs’ recovery came when he moved from Los Angeles to New York City, before talks of a fifth movie were happening. He believes that the change in surroundings and energy in New York helped him recover, though he its he still relapsed even after the move.

It’s a comedy rite of age to watch the American Pie franchise. The original 1999 film was a pop culture phenomenon, launching the careers of its talented stars and leading to an endless stream of sequels and spinoffs. The last film featuring the original cast, American Reunion, was released in 2012, but if Hollywood has proven anything, it’s that legacy sequels will always draw the fans back in.

Seann William Scott, the man responsible for American Pie’s most enduring (and quotable) character, Stifler, discussed the idea of making another film during an interview with ComicBook. He not only confirmed that he would be interested in doing it, but that he’s already come up with a pitch as to what the film would be about.

Scott’s pitch would involve Stifler, and the character’s struggle to adapt in a society that’s much more politically correct than it was two decades ago. “It would be so much fun to see, I think, fun, but also really fascinating to see a guy like Stifler in his mid-forties today trying to figure things out,” the actor opined. “A guy who hasn’t really changed that much, but the world has changed, you know, what would his life be like? … Is there a fun end to a story?”

It’s an intriguing pitch, given that Stifler is emblematic of the zany, oftentimes crass humor that made the original films so popular and would likely keep them from getting made today. Taking a more grounded approach to the character, and finding humor in how out of step he would be with young people today, would be a clever way to continue the American Pie brand while at the same time updating it for modern audiences.

This is not the first time that talk of a fifth mainline American Pie film has surfaced. In fall 2022, Universal Studios announced that a sequel was going into production, and Scott’s co-star Jason Biggs confirmed that he would be interested in reprising the role of Jim Levenstein. Little else has been said about the film, however, leading many fans to conclude that it won’t be happening.

Scott’s idea is independent of the Universal announcement, so perhaps it will help to get the wheels turning once again. The actor is enthusiastic, but also unsure of whether it will catch on enough to secure a green light. “We have to have a great idea, and especially these days, it has to be awesome,” he explained. “You know, comedy is tough, and they have always been tough, but you know, comedies have really changed… I don’t know if it’ll ever happen.”

The status of the fifth American Pie film is still up in the air, but it’s an encouraging sign to see actors like Scott and Biggs continue to be vocal about their ion for the franchise and their desire to return. This ion, coupled with the surprise success of co-stars like Jennifer Coolidge and Eugene Levy (who recently took home Emmy Awards for The White Lotus and Schitt’s Creek, respectively), and we may get to see the gang back together yet.

Get ready for another rowdy coming of age story in the form of a new American Pie film, which is inbound from the writing talents of Sujata Day, the mind behind Definition Please, and the star of Insecure.

At this point in time, not a whole lot is known about the new entry to the long-running raunchy comedy series besides the Day’s writing credit, originally reported by THR, so it is unclear whether it will see the return of the cast from the mainline films or if it will be another American Pie Presents: spin-off. It’s surely more likely to be the latter, considering the original American Pie’s aging cast coming together for a ‘re-reunion’ would be kind of grim, but we’ve been surprised before.

The last time we saw American Pie’s original cast consisting of Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Chris Klein, Alyson Hannigan, and Tara Reid among others come together was ten years ago in American Reunion. Set thirteen years after the ensemble cast’s graduation, the gang’s all grown up and starting families, with fan-favorite jock Stifler unsurprisingly being the least grown up of the lot. It featured plenty of callbacks to the most hilarious moments the series had to offer.

Sujata Day’s American Pie film would mark the ninth entry in the ongoing sex comedy franchise, with the most recent addition being 2020’s American Pie Presents: Girls’ Rules which currently sits at a paltry 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

While the film series has never particularly been a critical success, with even the original American Pie sitting at a lukewarm 60% rating, something about this film franchise keeps bringing its audience back.

Earlier this year, Steven Stifler actor Seann William Scott reflected on the legacy of American Pie, musing that the sex-fuelled film series probably wouldn’t have been made in today’s day and age. 

Actor Jason Biggs has an infamous pie past, thanks to the American Pie series, and is now turning back to pastry and other sweet goods to host a new competition show in which the world’s best bakers give their all to win.

Today Deadline Hollywood reported the Orange Is the New Black star will be hosting Biggs Ass Bake Off for ITV America through their ThinkFactory Media imprint. The challenge will see competitors literally sleep in the kitchen while perfecting creations; each episode consists of a 24-hour baking challenge to craft an edible set to impress Biggs and guest judges, with subsequent challenges getting bigger as the season continues.

The piece does not have a release date or network set at this time. Biggs said in a quote to Deadline Hollywood he is pleased to be working on the production, and is distinctly aware of how it was something he was destined to get into.

“Over 20 years as the ‘pie guy’ has led me to this inevitable place – hosting and producing a baking show of epic proportions. I am incredibly excited to partner with the brilliant folks at ThinkFactory Media to bring audiences a show fit for this self-proclaimed ‘King of Pastry.’ The bakers’ creations will be beyond measure-ing cups and matched only by the drama of the competition. This is gonna be a fun one.”

Here’s hoping they bring in Eugene Levy for a fun cameo and homage to the pair’s infamous scene in American Pie.

While we’re still 278 days away from Christmas — and yes, we’re counting — the holiday season is in full swing within the entertainment realm. Movies are being crafted, stars are getting ready for spring towns turned winter wonderland, and Mary Lambert, director of Netflix‘s A Castle for Christmas, is heading back to the streaming platform with a new holiday film.

Deadline shared the exciting news this afternoon, alongside the all-star cast list. Best. Christmas. Ever. will star Jason Biggs, Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, and Matt Cedeño, with Norwood set to take on the role of a Christmas-loving woman whose annual holiday letter doesn’t exactly bring out the holiday cheer in one of her oldest friends.

As Deadline reports, the synopsis for Best. Christmas. Ever. is as enticing as a warm glass of cocoa:

“The film centers on Jackie who every Christmas, without fail, sends a boastful holiday newsletter that makes her old college friend Charlotte feel like a lump of coal. When a twist of fate lands Charlotte, her husband Rob, and their family on Jackie’s and her husband Valentino’s snowy doorstep just days before Christmas, Charlotte seizes the opportunity to prove her old friend’s “perfect” life can’t possibly be that perfect. But in her overzealous attempt to expose Jackie, Charlotte nearly ruins Christmas for both families and must team up with her old friend to put the pieces back together.”

Best. Christmas. Ever. has all the components of a great story, and will undeniably bring warm and cozy magic to the season. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more about the holiday likely-hit.

After years of unwanted sequels, the popular 90s comedy franchise American Pie has returned to the big screen with all of its original cast, plus two comedy directors by the names of Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (Harold & Kumar) to help bring the characters home. Unfortunately for Hurwitz and Schlossberg American Reunion is the worst piece of pie yet, not counting the unwatchable straight-to-DVD sequels. Reunion isn’t funny, contains way too much overly dramatic dialogue and feels incredibly long and out of touch with what made the original series kind of work. The gang is back! Jim (Jason Biggs), Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), Oz (Chris Klein), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Vicky (Tara Reid) and Stifler (Seann William Scott) have all went and lived their separate lives, but are now coming back for their belated high school reunion. Not much has changed since Jim first had sexual relations with a pie, aside from Jim and Michelle actually having a child, plus Stifler holding a real job that doesn’t serve french fries. American Reunion is the return of the 90’s teenage comedy, except it forgot to bring the comedy. There’s something tremendously stupid about Reunion that doesn’t fit in next to the mediocre American Pie and its two sequels. I’m no Pie-lover by any means, but I appreciated the trilogy for what it is, especially for the period in which it takes place in. American Reunion doesn’t refresh the laughter or introduce new gags; it instead takes the cheap way out and tries to ride off of the humor that wasn’t even funny in the first three films. The characters haven’t progressed at all, which suddenly makes the group of aging adults come off as pathetic, instead of cute and entertaining. There’s nothing funny about a bunch of 30-something adults complaining about working day jobs and paying bills. It was entertaining when they were young adults throwing parties and doing ridiculous things, but it begins to feel kind of creepy when you’re forced to watch one of these adults return a drunken naked girl (who he used to babysit) to her home before her parents find her. It’s this kind of immature humor that makes the film feel a decade too late. Stuff that was sort of funny in the first three films feels tired and repetitive in Reunion. I’m not sure how Hurwitz and Schlossberg managed to mess up this badly, especially knowing their previous directorial work, which includes Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, which is hilarious. Reunion is just a flat sequel that moves at a sluggish pace and hits rock bottom once the characters start infusing their current life drama with the film’s story. No one ever watched the original Pie films for dramatic life problems or constant bitching and complaining about getting old. No; we watched the original Pie films for teenage humor, tons of parting and the occasional bare female breast. American Pie isn’t a cult-classic, but it is a comedy that works on some levels and fails on a few others. American Pie 2 works much better as a straight-forward film, only because it attempts to become a coming-of-age tale, mixed with that raunchy sex humor. American Wedding is the sign of a bad joke gone too far and American Reunion is what happens when you hit rock bottom. If you absolutely have to watch Reunion because you’re a completest or something, then you’ll be pleased to know that Seann William Scott‘s Stifler has managed to become the high-point of the series, which sort of makes for an all-time low-point for the quality of the series. Scott keeps the laughs coming strong, even when the rest of the entire cast manages to fumble every single line. I credit Scott for trying to keep a straight face while collecting one of the easiest paychecks of his life, but I sure hope he doesn’t come back for the sequel, because we do not need one!

The 1080p video transfer never comes out of its shell. Most of the transfer can be described as soft, but that doesn’t completely cripple detail and color. The balance of the transfer is even, especially for a comedy, but I couldn’t help but to find myself getting bored looking at the flatness of the presentation. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is mostly a front-heavy track, but it does branch out and mingle with the rear channels. The soundtrack, dialogue and environmental noise all comes in with proportioned detail, which makes for a more than acceptable mix. Here’s a detailed list of the special features included in the combo pack:

• Unrated & Theatrical Version: This combo pack offers up both an unrated version as well as the original theatrical version. The differences are minor, with the unrated cut clocking in a full minute longer than the original cut.
• Audio Commentary: A basic track featuring the two directors of the film. They both offer up the usual balance of impromptu humor and informative filmmaking comments.
• The “Out of Control” Track: A video commentary with random of the cast popping up to add their own comments about the film.
• Deleted, Extended, Alternate Scenes and Gag Reel (HD): The basic compilation of extra material. Most of the stuff here isn’t all that funny, but the gag reel does stick out as memorable.
• The “Reunion” Reunion: Re-Launching the Series (HD): The behind-the-scenes look that gives you cast and crew comments about the forming of the fourth theatrical Pie film.
• The Best of Biggs: Hangin’ with Jason B (HD): 4 minutes dedicated to Jason Biggs, which is far too much time if you ask me.
• Lake Bake (HD): A lakeside look at the cast and crew.
• Dancing with the Oz (HD): A look at Chris Klein‘s character.
• American Gonad-iators: The Fight Scene (HD): A look at how they filmed the epic battle between the adults and the teens.
• Jim’s Dad (HD): The under-appreciated savior of the series only gets 3 minutes.
• Ouch! My Balls! (HD): The title speaks for itself.
• American Reunion Yearbook (HD): An interactive yearbook with video clips.
• DVD Copy
• Digital Copy
• UltraViolet Digital Copy

One doesn’t expect much from a sequel like American Reunion, which is over a decade too late and unnecessary to boot, but for some reason I was hoping it would at least be an entertaining way to kill an hour and a half. At no point was I expecting something too memorable or classic, but I didn’t expect to flat out hate the film as much as I did. As it stands American Reunion is one of the worst comedies of the year and the worst Pie film yet, because it tries too hard to inject the film with a cold dose of reality, which is never funny and mostly boring. It doesn’t help when the main characters still act as if their 15 yet try and complain about grown up matters. It’s counterproductive and makes you want to pluck out your eyes. American Reunion is something you’ll want to skip. The Blu-Ray’s video transfer is muddy and sunbaked, while the audio track is a front-loaded and energetic in bursts. The special features don’t help the film become a purchase, but they do provide a couple of harmless features that are mostly surrounded by filler.

This review is based on a copy of the Blu-Ray that we received for reviewing purposes.

Universal Studios will be bringing the fourth installment in the Pie series, titled American Reunion, to Blu-Ray in July.

The entire (yes, I mean literally everyone) Pie gang is back in American Reunion! Harold & Kumar creators Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg step behind the lens for a reunion film like no other. Reunion marks the return of every key player, including Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Alyson Hannigan and many more. Initial trailers for the film hinted at a bit of 90’s nostalgia, with classic moments brought back to life and the promise for new ones, but the film couldn’t have been any worse. It’s a trite and dumb attempt at jokes that were kind of funny in the 90’s, but especially not funny now. I’ve had my fair share of problems with the series (my reviews for each of the original three on Blu-Ray: American Pie, American Pie 2, American Wedding) but American Reunion is by far the worst Pie film yet. It swaps out the childish humor in place for… actual drama! That’s right; characters we didn’t care about before are now suddenly faced with all of these problems and challenges with growing up and getting old and we’re suddenly supposed to care! Maybe it’s just me, because staff reviewer Billy Tatum had a lot to say about the film in his review. Here’s a brief snippet:

American Reunion is of the funniest movies of the year. The filmmakers and cast captured what made the original so great while making you forget the spinoffs. Fans of the original won’t be disappointed.

The Blu-Ray/DVD/UltraViolet Digital Copy combo pack will come with the original theatrical cut as well as an unrated extended cut. The film will be presented in 1080p with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. The following special features have been confirmed:

• Commentary with co-directors/co-writers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg on both rated and unrated versions
•  The “Reunion” Reunion: Re-Launching The Series behind-the-scenes featurette
•  Jim’s Dad feature
•  Ouch! My Balls! feature
•  Seven deleted scenes
•  Gag reel
•  Blu-ray exclusives:
•  Out of Control viewing mode with Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Alyson Hannigan, and other cast
•  4 Behind-the-scenes featurettes
•  American Reunion interactive yearbook
•  Thirteen extended scenes
•  Alternate takes

American Reunion will be available to own on July 10th, 2012.

It’s been my experience that the only people who look forward to reunions are the people who actually jump at the chance to organize them. They seem to have smiles that never end and a flair for the nostalgic, while everyone else just hopes their illegal diet supplement kicks in on time. American Reunion is the only reunion where you won’t have to suck in your gut, which is good, because you’ll be laughing for most of the way. Reunions are supposed to be every ten years, but you can’t expect a franchise that featured the deflowering of an apple pie to be conventional, can you? There’s a 13 year reunion and the old gang is getting back together, but time hasn’t stood still for our Fantastic Five, which includes Jim (Jason Biggs), Oz (Chris Klein), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), and of course, Stifler (Seann William Scott). Jim is happily married to band camp hottie Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) and with a 2 year old. Oz is a now a low rent ESPN type broadcaster with latent Vanilla Ice tendencies. Kevin is married and a devout metrosexual. Finch is a self-proclaimed adventurer and Stifler is well…Stifler. No sooner than the guys are assembled do their libidos start to come to life with, of course, comedic circumstances. But this is no longer 1999 and with great erections come great responsibilities, such as when the now grown up girl that Jim used to babysit, Kara (Ali Cobrin), throws her nubile body at him or how the guys help him get a drunken Kara into bed (merely to sleep) before her parents get wise. It’s not the only challenge of keeping one’s fidelity in the film. Speaking of parents, the two dominant ones in the American Pie franchise are not washed under the rug of nostalgia. Eugene Levy returns as Jim’s dad, complete with thick eyebrows and a ton of awkwardly inappropriate exchanges with his son. He and Stifler’s mom (Jennifer Coolidge) have a meeting of the minds that will leave audiences convinced that the franchise has come full circle. Like its namesake pie, the film not for everyone, but it’s always been the sweetness that’s separated it from not only its imitators, but the four made-for-video spinoffs that it unfortunately spawned. The gross out gags may…gross out, but American Pie was always more than that. Like Porky’s before it, the spirit of friendship was often lost in the quest for T&A. The boys are still trying to get laid, but in Reunion they also realized that the true money shot is when they all come together…as friends (I got that pun on sale). Writer-directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg put on a new layer of comedic paint on a house that had become a little worn down. They gave us Harold and Kumar, which makes it an even bet to make even the most sequel cynical moviegoers bust a gut at some point. The duo wisely kept to the reunion theme, complete with grown up decisions and possible reunions with first loves. They wisely chose not to pressure the cast into being plastic surgery perfect. The cast has aged gracefully and when it comes to comedy, looks are only skin deep anyway, especially when Stifler is relieving himself in a beverage cooler. Oddly enough, the thing that keeps American Reunion fresh is the fact that they’re not trying to be 17 again. Ok, maybe Stifler is, but he’s the cautionary tale that you can’t take your eyes off of. Loyal to a fault, but with less filters than a smoke stack. Although the cast, particularly Seann William Scott, have avoided being typecast over the years, there’s truly no shame in itting that Stifler is a character that everyone wants to punch one minute and hug the next. He’s possibly the most well rounded of the characters because he does lack a filter, and on occasion, a conscience. Chemistry has always kept the guys together and it’s what keeps the film watchable, despite being nearly two hours in length. American Reunion proves that sequels can be done right if you have fun with nostalgia instead of revelling in it.

The third (and then) final Pie film comes in the form of a wedding. American Wedding marks the end of a trilogy for these particular characters. Director Jesse Dylan takes over the reigns and gives us the worst Pie film yet. American Wedding tests your patience and stretches out the jokes that used to be funny, making the film feel like a constant loop of dud jokes and toilet humor. Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan and Seann William Scott all return for the ride. Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) open the film with another Pie styled gag. Jim attempts to propose to Michelle at the dinner table of a restaurant while she misinterprets his proposal signs for a sudden blowjob. She hops under the table as Jim’s dad (played by Eugene Levy) comes waltzing into the dining room with the ring that Jim left at home. Jim is then forced into the awkward situation of being on the receiving end of a sexual act while trying to carry on a polite conversation with his dad. It obviously ends in a weird fashion, but something really different follows. The film takes this joke (that isn’t even all that funny to begin with) and turns it into an attempt at a heartfelt proposal. The film’s tone is established very early on and it’s that same tone that ruins the film. American Wedding pulls no tricks in delivering you another comedy, Pie style. What kind of worked in the first film does not work in this film. The ridiculous sexual humor that kept a running joke going is now extinguished almost immediately. I’m not sure if it’s the writing or directing, or maybe the lack of effort by the cast, but American Wedding just feels like a repeat of tired jokes and really dumb situations that don’t even work for the Pie crowd. Stifler (Seann William Scott) gets into a dance off with a gay man at a gay bar, while Jim looks for a wedding dress designer. Instead of the scene ending in embarrassment for the gang and laughter for us, it ends with them actually finding the designer and Stifler winning the dance off. No laughter on are part and no real enjoyment. American Wedding somehow takes every direction that they would have gone in the previous 2 films and runs in the opposite direction. Where jokes should end the film continues with them and when jokes shouldn’t even exist the film tries to make you laugh. It covers all of this garbage with a very thin layer of romantic connection between Jim and Michelle. Despite their lack of showing affection, the film always throws in their wedding to try and get an emotional rise out of you and it rarely ever works. I didn’t think it was possible to make a film that is lower than the first American Pie in quality, but American Wedding does that with ease. Universal Studios continues their cold streak with yet another troubled 1080p video transfer. American Wedding, like the previous 2 films, lacks real definition and any sharpness whatsoever. Colors are warm and unattractive throughout the entire film. There are a few very brief spots of close-up detail to things like faces, but only for a split second. Still, it’s the best looking Pie film yet, only because of its age. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track on the other hand is a noticeable improvement. Finally, some activity in the back channels! Dialogue comes in through the front channels while the back channels do open up occasionally for environmental noise like party music. American Wedding comes with the following special features:

• Theatrical & Unrated Cuts
• Deleted Scenes (SD)
• Outtakes (SD)
• American Reunion: A Look Inside (HD)
• Stifler Speak (SD)
• Enter the Dominatrix: Inside the Bachelor Party (SD)
• Grooming the Groom (SD)
• Cheesy Wedding Video (SD)
• Kevin Cam: A Day in the Life of an Actor (SD)
• Nikki’s Hollywood Journal (SD)
• Commentary with Director Jesse Dylan and Actor Seann William Scott
• Commentary with Actors Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Thomas Ian Nicholas
• DVD Copy
• Digital Copy

Watching the Pie films in order is a disaster. American Pie starts off kind of weak and while it provides you with a few laughs here and a few laughs there, it is ultimately a forgettable comedy. American Pie 2 on the other hand keeps the same kind of humor, but injects a small dose of charm, which helps you identity with the characters. American Wedding takes what both films established and throws everything in the garbage, coming at you full speed with jokes that mostly fall dead and absolutely no charm or likability. It also leaves you with no desire to see the fourth film, American Reunion. The only real accomplishment for American Wedding is its improved audio track that finally adds some dynamic to the sound mix. Up until this point every Pie audio track lacked any sort of audio track with range and distributed sounds. The picture quality also slightly improves too. American Wedding is a bad film, but it’s probably something you should see if you want to go into Reunion having watched all the previous Pie films that matter.

A whole two years after the world saw American Pie came J.B. Rogers‘ American Pie 2, a sequel that is actually a slight overall improvement. This time around the gang is back from their first year in college and they deal with the issues of things never staying the same and how everything is always changing. In a resort to rekindle those old party feelings they load up and head to a summer beach house, where plenty of women, booze and fun times await. It’s still another raunchy Pie film, but American Pie 2 has a little more heart and likableness to its characters that makes it a step in the right direction. Jim (Jason Biggs), Oz (Chris Klein), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and Stifler (Seann William Scott) are all back for the sequel to the comedy that shook up the world (somehow) in the late 90’s. It’s the gangs first summer back from college and they celebrate it by packing the truck full of goodies and heading out to the summer beach house. There they get into all sorts of trouble that results in one big party where everything sort of works itself out. In this slice of Pie the character of Jim is actually given some dimension. Instead of being just another idiot trying to lose his virginity he’s now a full-grown man trying to again have sex, but this time something actually happens. He ends up running into the band geek, Michelle (Alyson Hannigan). He originally asks her for tips on how to better his sex life, but the more she assists him the more the two clearly have something for each other. It’s a typical movie turn, but it’s nice to see these characters actually show a bit of their feelings. The rest of the crew isn’t given much to work with and it shows. Oz is mostly bored with everything because his girlfriend is overseas and Kevin seems to be playing the realist, constantly reminding everyone how the times are never going to be as good as this. It’s a true reminder and one that again adds a little more charm to the film, but he never seems to actually grab the moment and take advantage of it. Finch and Stifler continue to play the oddball and obnoxious characters, with no real purpose for their roles minus the ongoing gags and laughs. There’s just something about American Pie 2 that I liked a lot more than the first film. It didn’t feel as raunchy, but it did feel like it actually cared about its characters and it spent a little more time trying to add definition to them, in hopes of getting the audience to connect with them. I enjoyed watching Jim get in and out of all of these crazy events this time around and not just because it’s funny, but because I was generally interested in seeing what direction he’d go in next. That wasn’t something I ever felt while watching the first film. Still, American Pie 2 in the end is just another American Pie film. It’s an improvement over the last, but it carries similar problems throughout.

The 1080p video transfer suffers the same problems as the previous film. Everything looks very bland and lacks any real definition or vividness. Bright colors do pop out, but only because the rest of the transfer is flat and lifeless. I’d again blame it on a dated master. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track suffers the exact same problems! There’s just not that much activity throughout the entire track. Dialogue and most general noise takes over the front channels, but the back channels rarely get a rise. The special features are a step in the right direction, with more than one audio commentary track and a few supplements. Check out the full list below:

• Theatrical & Unrated Cuts
• 4 Audio Commentaries
• Deleted Scenes (SD)
• Outtakes (SD)
• The Baking Of American Pie 2 (SD)
• American Reunion: A Look Inside (HD)
• Good Times with Cast and Crew (SD)
• Music Video (SD)
• Theatrical Trailer (SD)
• DVD Copy
• Digital Copy

American Pie 2 is a step in the right direction for a series that eventually goes in the worst direction possible, straight to DVD. The first three films at least were enjoyable on some level, but then a dozen spin-off sequels plagued the Pie name and now the newest film, American Reunion, is trying to capitalize on a once popular name. Having watched American Pie just the other night I can safely say American Pie 2 is an overall improvement, adding both charm and slight depth to otherwise surface-level characters. It’s better than the first film, but it still doesn’t hold up well against a dozen other teen comedies. That being said, the Blu-Ray package is similar to the first film, with a shoddy video transfer and a front-heavy audio track. The special features are all on the disc as well as two cuts of the film. If you like the Pie films then I probably don’t need to tell you to pick this one up. If you haven’t bothered with them yet then I’d still suggest renting this one.

It’s been a long time since I first visited American Pie. What was once the R-rated comedy of the late 90’s is now just another title that for some reason really appealed to audiences in its day. I  initially liking the film when it first came out, but I never had the urge to revisit. In fact, I’ve only ever seen the film once before. Returning to it now, in preparation for American Reunion leaves me with lots of questions. Why did this film get a sequel in the first place and why is Universal returning to the “series” for another outing? American Pie is just another byproduct of the 90’s that’s not all that funny and not all that original or fresh. It just sort of exists. Jim (Jason Biggs) and his group of friends are on the verge of graduating high school. They’ve got only a few weeks left and with that in mind they’d like to not be virgins going into college. They make a pact to have sex right after prom. Each of them go their own way, with Jim trying to score with a foreign exchange studio, Oz (Chris Klein) trying to let out his emotional side with a Jazz singer, Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) advancing his relationship with his girlfriend and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) continuing to do whatever it is that he does to score with the ladies. All four of them approach sex very differently and all four of them end up with varying results. American Pie in some conversations has been called one of the best teen comedies of the 90’s and that bothers me. On one hand watching the film does bring back fun memories of the 90’s, but only because of its setting. Not once does the film actually become memorable for its characters or story. After watching the film again I still can’t much of anything about it. All I is Jim acts like an idiot for most of the film while Stifler shouts out obnoxious gestures that aren’t the least bit funny. There’s one or two exchanges between Jim and his dad that are kind of awkwardly funny, but the bulk of the film is just a bunch of flat jokes and very shallow thinking. It’s not even all that entertaining and there’s nothing really cute or charming about the characters to begin with. It just baffles me knowing that the film was so successful and profitable that it earned 2 immediate sequels and now a long-lost sequel that’s coming out in just a few weeks. Revisiting old comedies is supposed to be fun and nostalgic, not boring and tiresome.  American Pie still feels like an under-cooked attempt at humor with nothing but filler. It’s not bad to the point of bringing it up for avoidance, but it’s just not worth mentioning. It’s the type of film that is easily forgettable and if you do come across it on USA Network or something you’ll find a laugh or two and then go about your day without even ing that you watched it.

There’s a lot of wrong with American Pie‘s 1080p video transfer. It feels a lot older than the 90’s with barely any detail or sharpness. I know comedies aren’t the formats strong suit, but it almost looks like an upconverted DVD. Bright colors look nice, but the film is far from a clean and popping transfer. Chances are Universal used an old master of the film, which is too bad because I don’t see any need for this to get a 25th anniversary re-release down the road. It’s not worth wasting the money. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track shares similar problems. It feels just as dated and just as muffled. There’s barely any activity in the entire film. Everything seems to come out of the front channels from start to finish. Dialogue doesn’t become a problem trying to understand, but everything on the whole is very soft and quiet. Have no fear, the special features are here! American Pie may look kind of boring and sound even worse, but at least the disc is stuffed full of special features. Check out the full list below:

• Theatrical & Unrated Cuts
• Audio Commentary
• American Pie Revealed: The Complete Story of All Three Comedies (SD)
• Casting Tapes (SD)
• Poster Concepts (SD)
• Spotlight on Location (SD)
• From the Set (SD)
• Deleted Scenes (SD)
• Outtakes (SD)
• Tonic Live Performance (SD)
• Music Video (SD)
• American Reunion: A Look Inside (HD)
• American Pie Theatrical Trailer (SD)
• DVD Copy
• Digital Copy

American Reunion is just around the corner and if American Pie is any indication of what we’re going to get then we’d better keep the expectations low. I’m not trying to dog on the film too hard, but I’m just so shocked at how bad the film holds up from original memory. I don’t recall loving the film or anything, but I do recall at the very least enjoying it. Watching it years later either shows me that my taste has changed drastically (which I don’t think it has) or that the film is a dated comedy that didn’t quite make it out of the 90’s unscratched. It just doesn’t stack up against other films from the same era or even against some of the poorer films from this decade. It’s not a bad movie by any means, but at the same time it’s not all that good. I wouldn’t continue ranting like this had the movie only been a one-and-done experience, but there are sequels! How did this happen? The Blu-Ray package is a very bottom of the barrel experience. Not much time or effort was dedicated to transferring this film over to the high def format, but I don’t really think that should come as much of a surprise. It’s a quick cash in on the new film coming out and we should be lucky that Universal was kind enough to port over all of the extras and supply us with not only a Blu-Ray disc, but a DVD and Digital Copy as well. Fans of the series will want to grab this; everyone else will want to skip over it like they did when the DVD’s came out.