Seann William Scott takes the cake in 'American Wedding'

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

AMERICAN WEDDING (Rated R) Two-and-a-Half Stars (Fair-to-Good) The "American Pie" films move on to cake in the third film in the gross-out comedy trilogy. You'll feel about "Wedding" exactly like you felt about the other two "Pie" films. It won't disappoint the many fans. But it won't win converts either. If you've sidestepped the other two, don't change direction now. Jason Biggs stars for director Jesse Dylan. Universal, 95 minutes.

Reviewing it couldn't be easier: You'll feel about "Wedding" exactly like you felt about the other two "Pie" films. It won't disappoint the many fans. But it won't win converts either. If you've sidestepped the other two, don't change direction now.

"American Pie" arrived in 1999 with its story of five high school friends eager to discard their virginity. It introduced a new generation to the concept of sophomoric sexual high jinks and bountiful bathroom humor. Such stuff almost always finds an audience, so it became a huge hit. "American Pie 2" followed the young men to college for some "Animal House"-styled campus mayhem. It also was a hit. So now we have "American Wedding," which sends the central romantic couple (Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan) down the aisle. But not before the characters try to offend audiences a few more times.

This time, we're treated to pubic hair in the frosting and a character eating dog droppings. Refined these movies ain't. Director Jesse Dylan is new to the series but seems to understand the root of the "Pie" success story: The sweet-and-sour balance between offensive humor and surprising heart. (Jesse is the son of Bob Dylan and includes a tune on the soundtrack from his brother, Jakob, and his band "The Wallflowers.")

Biggs once again is Jim Levenstein, the likable and somewhat shy guy who stumbles his way through mishaps galore while trying without success to maintain a bit of decency and decorum. Hannigan returns as Michelle, the red-haired girl who moved from band-camp friend to lover and now to fiancee.

Helping Jim prepare for the wedding are most of the usual suspects — the quirky intellectual Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), the straightforward Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) and the utterly despicable slime ball Stifler (Seann William Scott). Only the softhearted jock, Oz (Chris Klein) fails to appear in part three. Apparently he, at least, has outgrown the juvenile concept.

Once again, Eugene Levy redeems much of the material with another amusing turn as Jim's befuddled father. New to the series is Michelle's attractive sister, Cadence (January Jones), whose arrival for the wedding is like catnip for Finch and Stifler. (Much of the comedy revolves around their competition for her affections.)

Stifler, in fact, has been elevated to star status in "Wedding." His antics are clearly designed to be the most offensive, but he's also been given an unlikely bit of character redemption. Biggs and Hannigan are nearly forgotten for much of the film as Stifler wreaks havoc.

He definitely catches the garter at this wedding.

Rated R, with nudity, gross-out humor, sex.