American Pie 2 (2001)

Directed by James B. Rogers. Starring Jason Biggs, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Chris Klein, Seann William Scott, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Alyson Hannigan, Tara Reid, Shannon Elizabeth, Natasha Lyonne, Mena Suvari, Eugene Levy, Chris Owen, Denise Faye, Lisa Arturo, Eli Marienthal, John Cho, Justin Isfield, Molly Cheek, Joelle Carter. [R]

The quartet of sex-obsessed friends (plus Stifler) are a year older—but certainly not wiser—and rent a lake house for the summer, stumbling into more raunchy shenanigans. The sketchy storyline is pretty stale here since most of these characters no longer have a sordid goal (losing their virginity), so the entire weak thrust of the narrative is placed in the not-quite-capable hands of Biggs’ Jim, who prepares for the return of his old crush (Elizabeth’s foreign-exchange bombshell) by seeking guidance from the only girl he’s been with between the sheets (Hannigan’s horny band geek). Coasts for a while on the mild goodwill of the original hit, but it’s far cruder than humorous, and in attempting to top the lewd outrageousness of the original, too many of the gags feel forced (“I super-glued myself to, uh…myself”). With all the bare skin, filthy mouths, and bodily fluids on hand, opportunity arises again for Levy’s well-meaning but socially-oblivious dad to steal a few scenes. Jennifer Coolidge and Casey Affleck reprise their small roles from the original in cameo appearances; Chris Penn filmed scenes as Stifler’s dad, but they were cut. Followed by American Wedding.

45/100