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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 1999)
ft\ Despite hype, raunchy film lacking By Samuel McKewon Editor I have a hunch that most viewers and reviewers of “American Pie” will shower it with praise, calling it raunchy, sexy, cool and just down right hilarious. That is, after all, the buzz that surrounds a movie that has been compared to “There’s Something About Mary.” There will be stories of its near NC-17 rating and people will file into the theaters in anticipation of the grossest gross the world have ever seen. If my hunch plays out, it’ll prove r* to me just how little moviegoers expect of films today. Most are anointing comic greatness on this movie from Paul and Chris Weitz. Well, it isn’t that great. It’s not even particularly good. It’s pretty average, actually - a John Hughes comedy with an extra dose of nudity that’s supposed to make us die laugh ing, as if drinking a cup of semen filled beer or watching a boy put his little man into an apple pie was really that funny. “American Pie,” a tale about four high school seniors boys trying to lose their virginity by prom, has its humorous moments - they’re just too few and too far in between. And as for The Facts Title: “American Pie’ Stirs: Jason Biggs, Chris Klein Eddfe Kaye Thomas, Thomas Ian Nicholas Director: Paul Weitz Rating: R (language, sexuality) Running Time: 1:37 (97 minutes) Grade: C Five Words: ’Pie’ falls short of hype those claims from the filmmakers that this is real teen living, I laugh. No, this movie is just as cheesy and stupid as most other teen comedies. It aims no higher and fares no better. But the movie wants to think it does as it introduces Jim (Jason This Thursday through Sunday only SAVE FROM 30% TO 65% on special groups of spring and summer clothing, shoes & accessories, including many Harold's seasonal exclusives, during our Sidewalk Sale! f rnifa -X'' r 4‘f'' ' " i1 _ %\ k EXCLUSIVELY AT ONE PACIFIC PLACE, OMAHA Shop online 24hrs. a day at www.haroUs.com or call 1-800-676-5373 for a free catalog. Page 2 ■ Daily Nebraskan Summer Edition ■ Thursday, July 8,1999 Biggs), Oz (Chris Klein), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), the four in search of sexual conquest. We get most familiar with Jim, a smart kid who more or less freezes up when he tries to talk to girls, especially the for eign exchange babe (Shannon Elizabeth). Oz is a star lacrosse player who gets in touch with his sensitive side in the school choir, where he warms to Heather (Mena Suvari). Kevin is try ing bed down his love-minded girl friend Vicky (Tara Reid), while the business-minded Fihch looks to score women with lies. Along tor the ride is Stifler (Seann William Scott) the jerk that’s only popular because of the parties he throws, the worldly Jessica (Natasha Lyonne) and Jim’s father (Eugene Levy). Alyson Hannigan is band geek Michelle, who fashions her flute a sexual device. Out of the ensemble cast, Biggs connects the best with a glib sense of comic timing as Jim. One senses he grabbed the lead based on his face alone, which screws up into contort tion during a birds and bees talk with dad. His strip scene gone horribly awry is among the movie’s funnier, albeit overly long, pieces. Klein and Suvari are the only cou ple that generates any chemistry as Oz and Heather, and their story is sweet, not funny. Kevin and Vicky have no spark, which illuminates the weakness of the actors playing them. * Blink-182 “Enema of the State” MCA Records Grade: B+ r Few bands can twist topics of prank phone calling, masturbation and flatulence into a solid record worthy of a second listen. However, Blink-182 are funny guys who make good enough music to warrant such attention. After beginning its musical career on the tiny independent label Grilled Cheese Records, the band has since surfaced onto MCA Records and has made a big name for itself. This official band of the “Jim Rome Show” can be seen in the film “American Pie,” a movie that cap tures the bands off-the-wall personal ity. The exposure has helped launch Blink’s latest release “Enema of the State” to a No. 9 debut on the Billboard Top 100. “Enema of the State” is Blink 182’s most balanced record to date. The album is a steady 12 songs that are different enough to keep each number fresh. With new drummer Travis Barker, it seems Blink-182 is now playing a style of poppy punk rock that fits the band’s attitude the best. However, there are no strong hooks on “Enema” which warrant several listens on their own, such as “Carousel” or “Josie” from past I wouldn’t want to spoil the big laughs in movie (which, for me, weren’t many), but I expected many more. Paul Weitz, who is credited as the director, had to cut the film three times to achieve a “R” rating. I won der if he cut out many laughs. I expect an uncut version when the movie hits video stores. What remains is a movie that does not recognize where it talent lies. The movie literally abandoned Jessica, who’s played by the best actress in the movie. Her character is highly under developed. Once again, the women exist merely as objects to acted upon and not as characters themselves. That’d be OK if fhe movie created indelible male characters, which it doesn’t, except for Jim. And believable / Hardly, which angers me, considering the cast and crew’s boasts of its authenticity. Look, no 17-year-old girl (European or not) walks into a boy’s room, strips, finds his dirty magazines, mastur bates to them, then invites the boy, whom she doesn’t know, to have sex with her. She doesn’t do it sober, any way. Ridiculous moments like this are galore. Only a handful are funny. - And unlike “South Park” a bril liant work with twice the raunch, this movie is short on wit. Every good movie, even “There’s Something About Mary” has it. Be it a lack of class acting or an over-emphasis on the crass, “American Pie” lacks it, and in the end, seems pretty half baked. efforts. Where “Enema” lacks in grand tracks, it makes up in continu ity. “Enema” thankfully has no comics shorts to break up the music. Similarly to the past two albums, the first song on “Enema of the State” is its best song, thanks to the vocal styles of guitarist Tom Delonge. In fact, most of the better tracks on the record are sung by DeLonge. He twists the melodies of his vocals around more often on “Enema” to add spice to each song he sings, espe cially “Dysentery Gary” and “All The Small Things.” Bassist Mark Hoppus has a straightforward vocal style, and his tracks are more often centered on failed romantic relationships. His better songs include “The Party Song,” which has an intended Nirvana “Come As You Are” refer ence, and the album’s first single, “What’s My Age Again.” Unfortunately, there is a lack of any hard punk songs that would add more energy to the album. While it wouldn’t help the flow of the record, a rocking song in the vein of “Enthused” would have been a wel comed addition. Nevertheless, “Enema of the State” is Blink-182’s first album that doesn’t need sketches to sell itself. The music stands strong on its own. — Patrick Miner