Bovie Movie

Bawdy comedy American Pie was an unexpected box-office hit in 1999 and, amazingly for a sequel, the whole cast returned here, including Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari and the wonderful Eugene Levy as Jason Biggs’s embarrassing dad. The humour remains the same — rude, crude and lewd — as the gang gets together for lots of beer and sex at a beach house following their first year in college. Apple pie lover Jim (Biggs) realises he needs to improve his sexual experience when he hears the beautiful Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) is coming back to town, leading him to track down his only sexual partner (Alyson Hannigan) and ask for her advice. This involves the placing of a trumpet in an unusual location, but it might spoil your enjoyment to say where. Sure, the comedy here isn’t sophisticated and it’s often predictable, but if someone supergluing his hand to his, erm, member gets you giggling, you won’t mind a bit. 

If you thought Dumb and Dumber or There’s Something about Mary plumbed the depths of grossness, hold on to your lunch — you ain’t seen nothing yet. This laughter-packed comedy about four teenage boys who pledge to lose their virginity before prom night has enough crass gags to satisfy the most demanding fans of Porky’s-style farces. Yet it also boasts some spot-on performances from a hip young cast that includes Chris Klein, Mena Suvari, Tara Reid and Natasha Lyonne. The title refers to one of the more eye-widening sequences, in which Jim (Jason Biggs) gets a bit too friendly with his mom’s apple pie. This is definitely not one to show granny, but must-see fare for those not easily offended. 

The National Lampoon franchise continued its nosedive into mediocrity with this lacklustre teen comedy. A spiritless melting pot of fratboy high jinks and syrupy sentimentality, director Walt Becker’s first film doesn’t seem to know whether it’s a cheeky romance or a moralistic farce. Feebly mimicking American Pie and its ilk (even casting Tara Reid as love interest Gwen), this tale of world-shy student Van Wilder, who will do anything to maintain his indefinite college stay, is just too bland to leave more than a fleeting impression. US TV star Ryan Reynolds lacks the personality and colour to play Wilder, while the humour is so weak that almost every gag falls flat. Even the attempts at “fashionable” gross-out tactics are distinctly third-rate, with the usual scatological and sexual themes hardly raising an eyebrow. This is a pitiful failure. 

While not in the same class as the Coen brothers’ previous film, Fargo, this goofy tribute to Raymond Chandler and film noir still comes gift-wrapped with enough good lines, ingenious plot twists and eccentric characters to satisfy their dedicated army of fans. There are, in fact, two Lebowskis: one is Jeff Bridges, who calls himself “the Dude”, an ageing hippy who becomes embroiled in the kidnapping of the other Lebowski’s wife, aided and abetted by tenpin bowling chum John Goodman. What follows is an insane labyrinth of plot and counterplot that encompasses the drug and porn underworlds, Busby Berkeley fantasies and bath time with a savage marmot. It’s a distinctive, crazy treat, decked out with a trademark film noir narration and marvellous performances from Bridges, the toothsome and taciturn Steve Buscemi and Coen regular Goodman, who based his Vietnam-veteran character on the bear-like writer/director John Milius. 

Dangerous Liaisons for the under-20s is the basic premise of this sexed-up, revved-up teen picture. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe star as the contemporary Merteuil and Valmont, circulating round the upper echelons of New York society and laying their bet as to whether or not Phillippe can bed Reese Witherspoon. You can understand why writer/director Roger Kumble saw the classic novel as an apt metaphor for burgeoning sexuality and exploration, but the crucial distinction is that Merteuil and Valmont, when played as middle-aged, have the motive of bitter life experience to fuel their dangerous games. With teenagers at its centre, the same plot seems to reverberate with unprovoked spite. The depth gone, this is simply an entertaining romp that’s easily surpassed by Stephen Frears’s earlier adaptation of the tale. 

David Zucker has fallen a long way since his Airplane! heyday. This clunker of a comedy is utterly devoid of wit, despite the fact that great pains are taken to prepare us for every potential gag. Publishing researcher Ashton Kutcher finds himself housesitting for his boss (Terence Stamp), who also happens to be the scrupulous father of his heart’s desire, Tara Reid. But none of the misfortunes that befall Stamp’s prized home are the remotest bit amusing — least of all thug Michael Madsen’s antics. It’s hard to see how a cast this stellar could be attracted to a project this dire.