But where the original mixed the sweet with the gross to fresh effect, this repeats the same trick with diminishing results.
Oz (Chris Klein) is now a sportscaster, Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicolas) an architect, Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) a cultured sort who travels the world, and Stifler (Scott) is pretty much still Stifler, struggling to leave high school behind and enter the real world. Jim (Biggs) is married, with a kid, but still having problems in the bedroom, and still getting caught masturbating (you’d think he would have become a more shrewd tugger by now).
There is a sense that the gang’s all back, and as before, this focuses on the guys – Tara Reid’s Vicky has been up to little in the preceeding years, or at least that’s all we can surmise. While a smattering of gags hit the mark, there are many that don’t. However, it’s the sweetness and observation with which the relationships are handled that ultimately rewards most – this was never a Porky’s smutfest franchise.
Eugene Levy steals the show as Jim’s dad, now a widower finding his feet as he gets back in the dating saddle, and cameos from the MILF-ers and Sherminator are fun. But co-directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (Harold and Kumar) are too occupied with nostalgia to offer much new. And while it can be amusing to hang out with old friends sometimes, it is never as much fun as you remember.
FILM review Alasdair Morton
Starring: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott | 15 | 112mins
Good for: A couple of good knob gags
