American Pie is a 1999 American teen comedy film directed and co-produced by Paul Weitz and written by Adam Herz. The film's main ensemble cast includes Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Alyson Hannigan, Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari, Eddie Kaye Thomas, and Seann William Scott, with Eugene Levy, Shannon Elizabeth, Chris Owen, and Jennifer Coolidge in supporting roles. The coming-of-age story follows a group of high school classmates who make a pact to lose their virginity before they graduate.
After the success of Wes Craven's horror teen film Scream (1996), Herz began developing the script for American Pie, originally titled Untitled Teenage Sex Comedy That Can Be Made For Under $10 Million That Most Readers Will Probably Hate But I Think You Will Love. A bidding war between major film studios ensued, and Universal Pictures won the film's rights in 1998. First-time directors Chris and Paul Weitz were attached as directors for the film, although only Paul was credited. Under a new title of Great Falls, filming took place from July to September 1998. The picture originally received an NC-17 rating from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA); edits were made to secure an R rating. The film's title was later changed to American Pie.
Released theatrically by Universal Pictures on July 9, 1999, in the United States, American Pie initially received mixed reviews from critics, who were polarized on the raunchy humor, but praised the performances. Nonetheless, the film was a box office success, grossing $235.5 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. American Pie revived the teen sex comedy genre for the late 1990s. The film's success also spawned a franchise, including three theatrical sequels American Pie 2, American Wedding, and American Reunion, and five direct-to-video film series American Pie Presents, consisting of Band Camp, The Naked Mile, Beta House, The Book of Love, and Girls' Rules.
Plot
At East Great Falls High School in Michigan, four friends await graduation: the sexually inexperienced Jim Levenstein; the insensitive lacrosse star Chris "Oz" Ostreicher; the intellectual Paul Finch; and Kevin Myers, who is desperate to have sex with his girlfriend Vicky.
During a house party hosted by womanizing jock Steven Stifler, the friends learn that their dorky classmate Chuck Sherman has lost his virginity. Frustrated by their lack of sexual experience, the four make a pact to each lose their virginity by prom night in three weeks.
Kevin struggles to seduce Vicky, who fears he only wants her for sex and insists on waiting for the perfect moment to lose her virginity. On the advice of Vicky's friend Jessica, Kevin tries to win Vicky over by giving her an orgasm. Guided by his older brother, he discovers a book of sex tips compiled by former students and uses a cunnilingus technique to rekindle their relationship.
Finch pays Jessica to spread rumors about his sexual prowess and large penis, making him popular with the high school girls. When Stifler's prom date ditches him to make herself available for Finch, Stifler retaliates by spiking Finch's caffè mocha with a laxative. Stifler lures him to the girls' restroom, where he experiences diarrhea, and gathers a crowd to mock him, ruining his carefully crafted reputation. Oz joins the choir to pursue girls unaware of his reputation, but he learns to enjoy performing and gains the attention of Heather, who invites him to the prom. She rescinds the offer after realizing that Oz is faking his sensitive persona, but reconciles with him after seeing his genuine efforts to change.
Desperate for experience, Jim, inspired by Oz's description of a vagina, has sex with a warm apple pie, but is humiliated when caught by his father. When Czech foreign exchange student Nadia asks Jim to help her study at his house after her ballet class, Stifler convinces him to set up a webcam so they can watch her change clothes. Jim unwittingly shares the livestream with the school's entire e-mail directory, letting everyone watch as Nadia undresses and masturbates to Jim's porn collection. Encouraged by his friends, Jim purposely walks in on Nadia, and she invites him to join, but, to her disappointment, he prematurely ejaculates twice before they can have sex. Following the incident, Nadia is sent back to the Czech Republic, and Jim becomes the laughingstock of the school. Frustrated and thinking she did not see the livestream, Jim asks the seemingly naive band geek Michelle to go to the prom.
As school draws to a close, Oz, realizing his feelings for Heather have become sincere, abandons his lacrosse championship game to perform a duet with her. At the prom, Kevin insists Jim, Oz, and Finch fulfil their pact and lose their virginities, but they refuse, frustrated at the social pressures to have sex for the sake of it, and accuse Kevin of using the pact to hide his fear of losing his virginity. After learning that Sherman lied about having sex, the boys reconcile with Kevin, who admits he is afraid.
At Stifler's lake house post-prom party, Kevin finally tells Vicky he loves her and they have sex. Afterward, Vicky ends their relationship, admitting it is unrealistic for them to maintain a long-distance romance while attending different colleges; they part while affirming their love for each other. Oz confesses his feelings to Heather, and they spend a romantic night together by the lake. Finch propositions Stifler's mom, and they have sex on the pool table; Stifler later finds them together and faints. Michelle reveals her aggressive sexuality and takes Jim upstairs to lose his virginity.
The next day, Jim, Oz, Finch, and Kevin meet up and discuss how things will change after high school, making a toast to their next step.
Cast
Jason Biggs as Jim Levenstein, a lustful, naive, and bumbling student Chris Klein as Chris "Oz" Ostreicher, a handsome and oafish school jock Thomas Ian Nicholas as Kevin Myers, an earnest student struggling to finally have sex with his girlfriend Vicky Seann William Scott as Steve Stifler, a crude and boorish student notorious for his parties Eddie Kaye Thomas as Paul Finch, an educated and sophisticated student Alyson Hannigan as Michelle Flaherty, a timid, flute-playing student hiding a domineering sexual side Chris Owen as Chuck Sherman, a self-proclaimed ladies' man Tara Reid as Vicky Lathum, Kevin's girlfriend who obsesses on making her life perfect Natasha Lyonne as Jessica, a sarcastic and worldly student Mena Suvari as Heather Gardner, a sweet-natured and virginal choir girl Eugene Levy as Jim's Dad, Jim's awkward but supportive and sex-positive father Shannon Elizabeth as Nadia, a sexually precocious Czech exchange student Jennifer Coolidge as Stifler's Mom, a seductive mature woman
American Pie also features Clyde Kusatsu as an English Teacher; Lawrence Pressman as Coach Marshall; Molly Cheek as Jim's Mom; Christina Milian as Band Member; Eden Riegel as Sophomore Chick; John Cho as "Milf" Guy; Sasha Barrese as Courtney; Eric Lively as Albert; Eli Marienthal as Stifler's Younger Brother; and Casey Affleck as Kevin's brother. Cameo appearances include rock band Blink-182 members Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, and Travis Barker, who appear as band members watching Nadia's and Jim's livestream, and Playboy Playmate Stacy Fuson.
Production
Development Screenwriter Adam Herz was looking to revive the teen sex comedy genre, which previously saw a boom period in the 1980s. Using Porky's and Bachelor Party as inspiration, Herz wrote a script that was based on his days at East Grand Rapids High School in Michigan. He wanted to make "a teen comedy that talked to kids on their level – which meant making an R-rated movie".
Spurred on by the box office success of Scream, which signaled the return of teen films, Herz completed the first draft of the script in six weeks. The screenplay, tentatively titled Untitled Teenage Sex Comedy That Can Be Made For Under $10 Million That Most Readers Will Probably Hate But I Think You Will Love, sparked a bidding war among studios, which was won by Universal Pictures for $750,000 in 1998. Universal tapped Chris and Paul Weitz, who had cowritten the 1998 animated film Antz, to direct the film. Said Chris, "We were as surprised as everybody else when we got the gig because we had never directed a frame of film before". For American Pie, Chris and Paul shared directing duties, though only Paul remains credited.
Casting Universal wanted to cast Jonathan Taylor Thomas in the role of Jim Levenstein, but Thomas turned it down. Bill Murray was considered for the role of Noah Levenstein, Jim's dad. Eugene Levy was ultimately cast in the role, which was originally written to be "much more of a red-meat, All-American dad guy", but Levy decided on playing him as more of a "neurotic, suffering, overprotective, overinvolved father".According to his book Fahrenheit-182, Blink-182 members Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus auditioned for the role of Stifler but it ultimately was given to Seann William Scott.
Filming
Principal photography on the film, then titled Great Falls, began on July 21 and wrapped on September 11, 1998. The title was changed to American Pie due to a negative test screening audiences reaction to the title Great Falls, Universal initially repeatedly turned down the title American Pie until late in production.
Though set in Michigan, the film was shot in Southern California, particularly Long Beach. Millikan High School was used for exterior shots, and Long Beach Polytechnic High School was used for interior shots. Both schools are within five miles of the Virginia Country Club and Los Cerritos neighborhood (where Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Donnie Darko were filmed).
In the film, the town is called "East Great Falls". The restaurant hangout, "Dog Years", is based on Yesterdog, a popular hot dog restaurant in the nearby Eastown neighborhood of Grand Rapids. The "Central Chicks" and "Central" Lacrosse team that East Great Falls plays against is an amalgam of nearby Forest Hills Central High School. The working title for the film had been "East Grand Rapids".
Due to the film's modest budget, Universal gave the filmmakers considerable creative freedom during filming, which allowed the actors to improvise much of the dialogue.
Music Soundtrack The film's soundtrack peaked at number 50 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The following songs were included in the film but were not featured on the soundtrack album: Sex-o-rama Band – "Love Muscle" (plays in the beginning with Jim watching a porn video, and again with Jim having sex with a pie.) The Ventures – "Walk Don't Run" (Plays when Finch runs to the bathroom.) Barenaked Ladies – "One Week" (Plays twice in the film, once during one of the party scenes and during the end of the film where Jim's Dad watches Jim stripping at the webcam.) The Brian Jonestown Massacre – "Going To Hell" (Plays in the first Dog Years scene before Stifler's party.) Third Eye Blind – "Semi-Charmed Life" (Plays during the Dog Years scene after the party.) Oleander – "I Walk Alone" (Plays during one of the party scenes, Stifler opens the door for the band geeks and rejects them from the party.) Hole – "Celebrity Skin" (Plays when Kevin performs oral sex on Vicki) Everclear – "Everything to Everyone" (During a montage with Oz and Heather on the docks and Kevin and Vicki in the house.) Harvey Danger – "Flagpole Sitta" (Plays when Jim sets up his webcam.) Duke Daniels – "Following a Star" (During a montage with Jim buying a tuxedo and Vicki dancing in the mirror.) Simon & Garfunkel – "Mrs. Robinson" (Plays when Finch seduces Stifler's Mom.) Libra Presents Taylor – "Anomaly - Calling Your Name (Granny's Epicure Mix)" (Plays when Nadia is about to have sex with Jim.) Etta James – "At Last" (Plays when Jim walks over to Nadia in slow motion.)