The year was 1999. Gas was only $1.22, Napster was the music download king, and four friends from East Great Falls High entered into a pact that would unfold as one of the greatest teen comedies of our generation. It was one of those rare movies that, if you were about the same age as the characters, spoke to you in a way that few movies do. Now, I can’t speak to the female perspective depicted in these movies, but I can tell you that as an 18 year old male, I saw myself (and my friends) in so many of the characters in this film. As the franchise progressed it was funny that I, again, found myself relating to where the characters where in their own lives. Then a horrible thing happened. Some “genius” in Hollywood decided to market a slew of Direct-to-DVD movies that ended up exactly where they should…the bottom of the discount DVD bin. So it was with EXTREME pleasure that I watched this movie as it marked the rejoining of the original cast in a new adventure.
Storyline: It’s been over a decade since the group from East Great Falls High graduated and it’s time for a reunion. The hard part about a reunion is seeing how much you have changed and, for most of this group, how much hasn’t changed at all. Jim (Biggs) and Michelle (Hannigan) are starting to feel like their lives are in a rut but they hope that a nice relaxing weekend at their reunion will help them reconnect. But when the gang gets back together the old high school hijinks ensue and call an end to the romance that seems to be missing in their relationship. The old gang is out to prove that growing older doesn’t mean that you have to actually grow up.
Worth the admission? If you are a fan of the original movie, I say that it is a definite YES. If not, the movie may fall very flat with you. This is one of those movies that are not really written to attract a new audience, it is only here to offer another chapter to the story and characters that many people fell in love with 13 years ago. If you are anything like me you will walk out of the theater with plans of downloading the soundtrack on iTunes and looking up old high school friends that you have lost touch with. You know the ones. As a 90’s teen, this movie was dripping with nostalgia and references that made me feel like a teenager again. Make sure you check it out!
Note: I must warn that this is a pretty hard “R” rating and has a good bit of foul language and some nudity, so make sure that you aren’t allowing minors in to see it.
If you loved it as much as the original, or thought it was a poorly executed attempt to cash in on the past success, let me know.
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