Jim (Jason Biggs) has a little problem. It seems that he enjoys spanking the monkey. Flogging the dolphin. Beating the bishop. Chafing at the bit. Shaking hands with the governor. Sending out the troops. Burping the chipmunk. Boxing the Jesuit. Pumping gas at the self-service island. Taking matters into his own hands. Waxing the carrot. Painting the ceiling. Okay, you get the idea. Jim and his three geeky high school buddies - Charlie (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Oz (Chris Klein) and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) - form a pact to "get laid" in time for graduation by whatever means necessary. When we first meet Jim, he's obviously in dire straits. The closest he has ever come to having sex is getting off on an apple pie his mom has baked (hence the title). [One ridiculous side note: Washed up singer Don McLean recently released a statement declaring that the film had nothing to do with his overlong hit "American Pie." Lighten up, Don!] To make matters worse, Jim's dad (Eugene Levy) even tries to teach him the facts of life by showing him a few of the more sleazy porno mags such as Shaved and Hustler (could it be possible that Larry Flynt actually paid for a product tie-in?). While Jim tries unsuccessfully to score with a foreign exchange student (an event that's broadcast over the Internet, of course), Charlie tries to round third base with his reluctant girlfriend, Oz joins the school choir on the prowl for some "untapped action" and Finch pays another student to spread wild rumors about his nonexistent sexual prowess. When they're not thinking about sex, these kids are out getting shit-faced. Basted. Snozzled. Crocked. Stifflicated. Ossified. Plastered. Snoozemarooed. Glazed. Plowed. Swacked. Vulcanized. Maxed out. Okay, you get the idea. Along the way, we are assaulted with the usual throwaway plot situations: kicking the band geeks out of a happening party, drinking a "spiked" beer, taking a dump in the girl's bathroom, etc. In addition, we must endure the worst rendition of a James Taylor song ("How Sweet It Is," in this case) ever to hit the silver screen. The action comes to a head at a wild party after the senior prom. The four geeks do manage to get lucky, but under some strange circumstances (for instance, Jim discovers that his date has learned some valuable sexual techniques with a flute at band camp!). Ironically and refreshingly, it's the ladies in the film who take control of the situation and set the ground rules.

American Pie has the brains to steal ideas liberally from some of the best films of the teen genre, including Fast Times At Ridgemont High, The Last American Virgin, Risky Business and The Sure Thing. Even though the filmmakers occasionally try too hard in their attempt to be outrageous, the film manages to succeed with a bit of old-fashioned charm and enough tastelessness to keep today's average teenager entertained for a couple of hours. Does the success of this film signal a move toward more intelligent teen films over the next few years? Don't hold your breath!