American Wedding [Blu-Ray]

Expanding on the heteronormative trajectory of the second film, this third installment of the raunchy American Pie franchise focuses on the central romance between Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), bringing an abundance of perversion and impropriety to their impending nuptials. And while no pies are actually fucked, Jim does propose to Michelle seconds after she fellates him under a table in an upscale restaurant and later throws his shaved pubic hair into an air vent, where it blows onto his wedding cake. What's interesting about this sequel, however, is that it focuses less attention on the central couple than it does on the emotional growth of Stifler (Seann William Scott). Amidst the terribly misguided sequences of gay bar dance-offs and simulated bestiality is the story of Stifler playing nice in an effort to bed Michelle's sister, Cadence (January Jones). While playing nice, he learns some valuable lessons about friendship, ultimately rescuing the wedding after his selfishness almost derails the entire thing. It's ridiculous and desperately strained, but this is a movie featuring a 15-minute sequence of topless strippers tying up the boys, spanking them and talking of shoving mops in their fanny. It's just unfortunate that these crude gags are more strained and painful in this third entry, taking precedent over the smartly built relationship between Jim and Michelle. In fact, more time is spent on building up a gag, wherein Stifler eats dog shit, than the actual wedding. This isn't discussed on the commentary tracks included with the Blu-Ray, but there is an entire supplement dedicated to the creative art of Stifler's profanity, along with more behind-the-scenes footage of the protracted stripper sequence. And, really, in a movie franchise known for breasts and aberrant sexual behaviours, what else could anyone ask for?