Film: American Reunion

GENRE: Comedy
RATING: R for nudity, language, crude & sexual content
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 53 minutes
STARRING: Jason Biggs (Saving Silverman, Loser)
Seann William Scott (Road Trip, Role Models, Goon)
DIRECTORS: Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg (Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay)
WRITERS: Hurwitz & Schlossberg (All the Harold & Kumar films)
PLOT: The gang reunites for their high school reunion and end up getting into similar hijinks as the first three films.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 I admit that I have seen the other American Pie movies (theatrical not direct-to-video). While there is definitely a bunch of raunchy guy stuff, not too far removed from Judd Apatow fare, I still find humour in the innocence of Jim and the predicaments he finds himself in. I almost felt nostalgic watching this, especially all the nineties music piped into the reunion scenes. Kudos to the producers for getting pretty much every cast member (big and small) to return for this installment. I’m sure some needed the paycheck, but still.
2 While Oz, Kevin and Finch are given some sub-par storylines this film is definitely the Jim & Stifler show (Biggs & Scott are also exec producers). Jim continues to be a stand-up guy trying to do the right thing to great comic effect. Stifler is not only the same outrageous jerk but also shows the most need for redemption. They play well off each other and get most of the laughs.
3 The rest of the laughs go to Eugene Levy this time around as Jim’s dad. While he usually gives awkwardly hilarious advice, he gets to party and let loose in this installment. He almost steals the show from the younger ones.
4 Jason Biggs doesn’t age. He looks just as young as he was in the first film thirteen years ago. His kitchen conversation with his dad looks almost identical to the post-pie talk in the first installment. I also like the Adam Sandler look-alike comments.
5 There’s a fun cameo in Oz’s Celebrity Dance Off footage.

RECOMMENDATION: Wait for the DVD or TBS
UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Avengers

Film: The Cabin in the Woods

GENRE: Horror 

RATING: R for horror violence, gore and some nudity 

RUNTIME: 1 hour and 35 minutes 

STARRING: Kristen Connolly (As the World Turns) Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Fran Kranz (Dollhouse) 

DIRECTOR: Drew Goddard (newcomer) 

WRITERS: Drew Goddard (Buffy, Alias, Lost, Cloverfield) Joss Whedon (Avengers, Buffy, Firefly, Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible) 

PLOT: The classic horror with five friends in an old cabin, but there is a lot more going on.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS: 
1 Got to hand it to Goddard and Whedon, they produced a horror that is full of fun and intentional laughs. This meta-horror goes so much further than Scream as only Whedon can. There are many fun twists and turns and I’m nervous to write any more in fear of ruining it for other viewers. You'll just have to trust me that it's pretty cool. 
2 Bradley Whitford (West Wing) and Richard Jenkins (Six Feet Under) are hilarious. They make this film the joyride it is. Them and Kranz who plays a convincing stoner with conspiracy theories. 
3 The bear-trapish weapon used to terrorize the kids looked pretty painful. Ouch! I would prefer a knife. 
4 An elevator opens and things come out. Can’t say more but it was truly a sight to behold. 
5 Three words: Angry molesting tree.

RECOMMENDATION: Wait for the DVD
UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Avengers