AMERICAN WEDDING (2003)

Directed By: Jesse Dylan 

Written By: Adam Herz 

Cinematography: Lloyd Ahern II

Editor: Stuart Pappe

Cast: Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Alyson Hannigan, Eugene Levy, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Eddie Kaye Thomas, January Jones, Molly Cheek, Fred Willard, Deborah Rush, Lawrence Pressman, Eric Allen Kramer, Nikki Ziering, John Cho, Jennifer Coolidge 

Jim Levenstein has finally found the courage to ask his girlfriend, Michelle Flaherty to marry him. She agrees to get married, but the problems don't stop there for Jim. Now along with Paul Finch and Kevin Myers, Jim must plan the wedding. Unfortunately, Steve Stifler is in town and won't let the wedding go past without having some fun himself, which includes setting up a secret bachelor party.

The end of the trilogy but not the end of the line for the film franchise. Though it does end a kind of era. Where the film's humor is still mostly gross out juvenile, but here at least it tries to somewhat show some maturity.

Though the film is an ensemble and the last of an unplanned trilogy. This film allows Seann William Scott the scene-stealer from the earlier films to take center stage. As most of the scenes revolve around him. When they don’t they are on Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan’s characters.

Scott’s character kind of comes to the realization. That he has been less of a friend and more of a nuisance to those around him

And realizes they have all grown up and moved on. Whereas he is still kind of stuck. Here he is made to face responsibilities. 

The film Leaves most of the characters other than those mentioned high and dry or more reacting to them. As it introduces a love interest for him that he spends most of the movie trying to fool into believing he is a nice guy.  That character played by January Jones isn’t given much to do other than play pretty and an interested good girl of sorts. She doesn’t really stand out much in the role. 

All the trouble he causes leading up to Jim and Michelle’s wedding. While trying to help set it up. Is what most of the movie revolves around. Though it isn’t a one-man show of slapstick comedy it is entertaining and better than the last sequel in the series. 

Though you can appreciate this movie as we are seeing the characters mature and grow up. So that we feel a bond with them over the years and this is the culmination of them. Watching this film, It dawned on me that at this point other than stifler most of the characters here still have only been with and some still stuck On their loves from the first film. Though at the time seeming unnecessary as a plot point in the second film and trying to bleed the franchise out. 

Even as half the original cast is missing no Tara Reid, Natasha Lyonnne, Shannon Elizabeth, Chris Klein or Mena Suvari 

Here you truly notice That there never needed to be one. Though as new romances would mean giving them more screen time and from the beginning. Though an ensemble these movies have always seemed to revolve around the characters of Jim, Michele and stifled more heavily than the others. The others just happen to be characters in their world and not written as strongly Or specifically as these comedic but human creations 

GRADE: C+