DVD Scene
'American Pie' reprises '99 teen raunchfest

This column is written for The Advertiser by Jordan Riefe, a Los Angeles-based writer who is the West Coast radio correspondent for Variety magazine and a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association. His film reviews appear in Hotdog magazines, and he is syndicated throughout Europe and Asia.

By Jordan Riefe
Special to The Advertiser

In "American Pie," Jim (Jason Biggs) dances his way into manhood as his dad (Eugene Levy) looks on. Universal Pictures

High school teens compete to lose their virginity.

The sleeper hit of '99, this teen raunchfest managed to tread the line between perverse and sweet-natured. With "American Pie 2" due in theaters next week, the new two-disc Ultimate Edition of the original contains a moviecash ticket that can be redeemed for a ticket to the sequel.

First up on disc one are nine deleted scenes, most of them no more than a line or two of dialogue. When Oz (Chris Klein) asks Jim (Jason Biggs) if there's anything he wouldn't masturbate to, Jim replies, "Of course there is, C-Span."

The making-of doc is a missable mess of platitudes about how wonderful everyone was to work with. And for those who can't wait to see the sequel, there's a sneak preview featuring clips and interviews behind the scenes. Rounding out disc one is the feature on widescreen, while disc two features the film in full frame.

Also included on the second disc is a collection of music highlights, montage over peppy pop tunes from the likes of Barenaked Ladies, blink-182 and Third Eye Blind. A list of "Classic Quotes" is superfluous, none of them being actual "classics," though the dialogue is admittedly hilarious in places. An extensive poster collection reveals the film's original title, "Great Falls."

Commentary is provided by an army of "Pie" personnel including brothers Paul and Chris Weitz (director and producer), writer Adam Herz and actors Eddie Kaye Thomas, Jason Biggs and Seann William Scott. The gang cuts up, swapping stories about on-set mishaps and the like, the focus being more on atmosphere and laughs than information.

Universal's "American Pie: Ultimate Edition" is a befitting package for a film that is among the best in its genre.

"Head Over Heels" (Universal Pictures) 2001
PG-13
87 Minutes
Freddie Prinze Jr., Monica Potter, Shalom Harlow, Sarah O'Hare

Supermodel roommates help their friend hook up with a sexy young hunk who they wind up suspecting of a cold-blooded crime.

This teen comedy was DOA when it arrived in theaters earlier this year and as such has been given the bare-bones treatment by the studio. A mostly promotional making-of featurette, a trailer, cast and crew bios along with a list of recommendations (titles that just happen to belong to Universal), make up the extras. Fans of the film will love it.

"The Brothers" (Columbia Tristar) 2001
R
102 minutes
Morris Chestnut, D.L. Hughley, Bill Bellamy, Shemar Moore, Gabrielle Union

Four lifelong friends face their fears about romantic commitment.

"It's about looking down the barrel of a gun, which is supposed to be love and commitment," says writer/director Gary Hardwick. "And the courage it takes to just sort of stand there and dare it to fire at you. That became the theme of the movie." Marked by fine ensemble and individual acting, "The Brothers" is a well-crafted though sometimes tedious retread of familiar territory.

Among the extras featured on this disc are four deleted scenes, three with optional commentary by Hardwick on why they were deleted. As usual, scenes that don't advance the story are the first to go. A promotional featurette along with a making-of called "A Conversation With Director Gary Hardwick" (at 21 minutes, a very long conversation) round out the disc. Also included are a music video, "Love Don't Love Me," by Eric Benet, and trailers for other Columbia Tristar pics including the upcoming "Ghosts of Mars."