Movie Review: American Reunion (2012) (R)

Serving Up Another Slice of Life

What I appreciate about the American Pie films is that, beneath the raunchiness and juvenile slapstick humor, there rests a kernel of truth. American Reunion continues in that tradition. Although it utilizes the kind of crude sexual humor that I don't find particularly funny, there is evident a compelling examination of friendship, love, and the general ups and downs of relationships at an adult life stage. In this case, that would be thirteen years after graduating high school; this is the point in time at which we find Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs), Kevin Myers (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Chris "Oz" Ostreicher (Chris Klein), Paul Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), and Steve Stifler (Seann William Scott). Now around thirty, they each have their own lives and have had their fair share of success and failure.

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Jim and his wife, Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), now have a two-year-old son named Evan, which is in large part why they have fallen into a sexual rut. Kevin is now a work-from-home architect and is happily married to a woman named Ellie (Charlene Amoia). After moving to Los Angeles and competing in a celebrity dance show (which he's now deeply embarrassed by), Oz has become an NFL sports announcer. He lives with his girlfriend, a supermodel and wild party girl named Mia (Katrina Bowden). Stifler, still an obnoxious and vulgar sex maniac, now works as a temp at an investment firm, where he undergoes daily abuse from his boss (Vik Sahay). Finch, after a period in which he went missing, suddenly returns on a motorcycle. He has not yet found the love of his life, but according to what he tells his friends, he has extensively travelled the world.

The entire gang comes back together when it's announced that a thirteen-year high school reunion would take place in their home town. Jim reunites with his father (Eugene Levy), who's eager to get back into the dating scene following the death of his wife three years earlier. Oz reunites with his former high school sweetheart, Heather (Mena Suvari), who's now dating a cardiologist named Ron (Jay Harrington). It immediately becomes apparent that Oz has more in common with Heather - and likewise, Ron with Mia. Kevin reunites with his old flame, Vicky (Tara Reid), and it seems that old feelings begin to resurface. Finch finds himself attracted to Michelle's former band mate, a bartender named Selena (Dania Ramirez), who since her homely high school days has blossomed into a beautiful woman. For obvious reasons, the guys decide not to invite Stifler. But you know how it is with twists of fate; he just happens to see them hanging out at a bar, everyone has a few shots, and the next thing you know, he's tagging along.

Jim, who still has an eye for hot teenage girls, is unwittingly reintroduced to Kara (Ali Corbin), the girl he used to babysit. Now on the verge of turning eighteen, she's certainly easy on the eyes. Initially, she flirts with him coyly. But on the night of her birthday, she gets drunk out of her mind; this paves the way for a series of comedic misadventures that make Jim look a lot guiltier than he actually is. Kara's jealous and immature boyfriend, A.J. (Chuck Hittinger), will have a few well-placed antagonistic run-ins with Jim and his friends. It culminates with a party at the home of Stifler's mom (Jennifer Coolidge), where just about everything goes wrong. Surprisingly, it goes well for Jim's dad, who reluctantly joins in. After getting certifiably drunk, he meets Stifler's mom and has... well, let's just say that he has a lot of fun. The two have a lot in common, not the least of which is having walked in on their children during a sexual encounter.

While I generally don't laugh at something as juvenile as defecating into a cooler filled with beer bottles, or hurriedly slamming down a laptop onto an erection, causing it to bleed, it's obvious to me that underneath is a story that has something to say about people. There's a moment, for example, when the guys observe the adolescent antics of the high schoolers partying at a lake; Kevin wonders aloud if they were ever as annoying back when they were in high school, and Finch responds that their generation was more mature. Naturally, Stifler is the exception. Indeed, there was a time when we would look at him and think he wouldn't grow up. Now that he has entered his thirties, it's looking more and more like he truly can't grow up. You know what the difference is.

Everything ends pretty much as we expect it to end, which in this case isn't a criticism so much as a simple observation. Sometimes, it's nice when a screenplay is formatted like a sitcom, even if it happens to be a really, really raunchy one. For me, the appeal of American Reunion has less to do with vulgar lines and sight gags and more to do with character development and theme. The first three films were fairly narrow in scope, their plots built on foundations as solid yet limited as losing your virginity, finding that special someone, and making a commitment to marriage. This new film is much broader, addressing the very relatable notion of settling down and living the rest of your life. The message, it seems, is that you can get through anything so long as you have friends at your side.

Movie Review: American Reunion (2012) (R)

Although Chris never officially studied film, film theory, or even journalism in college, his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Creative Writing has taught him to appreciate story, character, and the imagination - all aspects that apply to the movies, and if there's anything his years of living in Los Angeles has guaranteed him, exposure to movies would be at the top of the list. He has always appreciated the art of filmmaking, but it wasn't until 2006 that he began writing reviews on various websites for new releases. Still residing in L.A., his reviews can be read at his website, http://www.atatheaternearyou.net.

Baseball And The African American Decline

It's not a secret that the number of black baseball players on Major League rosters has been in decline for years. USA Today is reporting that only 8% of players on 2012 Opening Day Rosters are African Americans despite the fact that baseball is perhaps as popular as it has been in a long time.

Baseball, at one time, was a big part of the African American community.

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I am African American, and when I was a kid one of my dreams was to be a ballplayer, as well as a TV Weather guy and maybe a Pilot. It's what a lot of my neighborhood buddies wanted to be too. We spent almost every Summer morning playing baseball in the street using anything we could for bats, balls, and bases. We played from morning until the relentless Texas heat made us quit at which point we would rest until the evening when was time to go play real baseball in Little League or Pony League games at "the city park". I also was thrilled to hear my grandfather tell me stories of his baseball days back when entire communities of African Americans would turn out to watch the local semi pro team play after church on Sunday's.

A few years ago when my son was old enough to play Little League I was amazed to see that he was only only black kid on his team and I counted just 2 others in the entire league. We live in Dallas and there were plenty of young black kids eligible to play. But they were not. Yet, if you drive around playgrounds you see lots of black kids playing basketball or throwing footballs. This should send red flags to Major League Baseball.

The game of baseball has not changed since my grandfather played it. It's still 9 innings and three outs. Clearly what has changed is that the game stopped promoting itself while the NBA and NFL were very clever in letting everyone know who it's top stars were and why.

They also notice how, during Barry Bonds' controversial run at Hank Aaron's record, so much attention was paid to passing Ruth-to the point of referring to it as "Ruth's record." Frank Robinson noticed a few years ago.

"You always hear about 714, Babe Ruth, and then, 'Oh, Hank Aaron. He had the most, 755,' " he told The Baltimore Sun, angrily, before a 2008 game while he was managing Washington. "He's not the home run king in people's minds."

I'm not here with any answers to why there are not more blacks playing baseball. I do think that baseball has done an admirable job of hiring black managers and coaches. But it needs to find away to back into the grass roots level of the black community and help young kids realize what a great game it is to play whether it be in the streets with a pillow for bases or a Major League Stadium with 40,00 fans.

Baseball And The African American Decline

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American Steps Against Childhood Obesity

A few years back, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) came out with a four-year study entitled "Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: United States." It revealed that over nine-million American children between the ages of six and nineteen are overweight, approximately three times higher than it was in 1980.

Children who are obese typically grow up to be obese, especially when the parents of the child are obese as well. The CDC study has helped motivate the American people to start looking at themselves and their children, and to take steps in order to fight the growing childhood obesity problem in our nation.

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Many nutrition and fitness experts have weighed (no pun intended) in on what they feel needs to be done to curtail this frightening trend of increase in American childhood obesity.

One aspect is to improve school food. Not only does school food have a direct impact, it also sends a message to kids. If fatty-foods are being sold, impressionable young children are being taught that eating these types of food is acceptable. An education-institution should be just that, not just in the classroom but the cafeteria as well. Fixing school cafeteria food would help educate kids on how unhealthy treats are things that should only be eaten on occasion.

In that same vein, another step slowly being taken is improving the health level of food in snack vending machines. The elimination of these vending machines is not the solution, but changing the snacks that are served inside them can be. The state of California has already taken steps in this direction, recently passing a bill that prohibits schools from selling high-sugar liquids out of their drink vending machines.

A third step is the emphasis of physical activity for kids. Most experts recommend kids take part in an hour of exercise a day at a minimum. Major American institutions, such as the National Football League, have initiated movements to help motivate kids to exercise. For example, the NFL runs the NFL Play 60 campaign, which is "designed to tackle childhood obesity by getting kids active through in-school, after-school, and team base programs."

The fight against childhood obesity has gotten support from some surprising sources as well. For example, the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group recently announced they would "improve product labeling by listing calories more prominently on containers, vending machines and fountain equipment." PepsiCo also pledged to list calorie content on the front of its drink vending machines by the end of 2012.

With the help of schools, sponsors, and the state and federal government, America will be able to not only attack the childhood obesity issues that it currently faces, but defeat them.

American Steps Against Childhood Obesity

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Is There a Reason That American Football is Not an Olympic Sport?

Has it ever surprised you that one of the greatest sports in one of the greatest nations is not shared with the rest of the world? You have to think that the Olympic committee has received at least some request to add football. This article is meant to point out some of the peculiar reasons that it might not qualify for any future Olympic Games. First, is that it is an American Sport.

Second, they would probably shut it down just like baseball and softball. Third, the shear volume of players has to be a small reason for the non-inclusion. Fourth, there is no international sporting organization set up for football

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Football is an American Sport

One of the main reasons that football might not be considered is that it is primarily an American sport. American football is not the only sport to have origins on this nation. Many sports like baseball and basket ball have expanded there reach to other countries. However football has never really extended past our continent. A reason may be due to the fact that football is a relatively newer sport. Though the exact date is unknown, we guess that it was started in the late 1800's. Much later than some of its sporting relatives: rugby or even soccer.

They would shut it down just like baseball and softball

Much to the disappointment of many American fans Baseball and Softball will not be a part of the 2012 London games. One of the reasons is that the United States has won it so many times that there really is no amount of competition that can come up against them. We could easily assume that if football was instated into the Olympics that it would be relativity impossible do dethrone our talent in the sport. Seeing as there is no point in competing against the likes of the New York Giants or the Patriots in shear atheism, one could denote that the same fate that has visited baseball and softball would surely come to pass on American football even after it was instated into the Olympics.

Shear number of players

If American football was instated it would require the largest amount of athletes per team coming in on average about 56 members per team. An average soccer team has anywhere from 25 to 30 members. Twice as many people would not be a big reason for non-inclusion in the summer games, but it does present some concerns about getting competition that is not from the United States to come and participate.

No international sporting organization

By far the biggest reason that American football has not joined the ranks for the Olympics is football is lacking an international sporting organization. One of the requirements of any sport prior to entering the Olympics is an international organization that is established to govern the sport all over the world.

Given the first reason, that football is an American sport, and that this sport has not caught on with other countries it is not likely to see any organization being formed in the near future. Thus furthering the distance that American football would have to journey to enter the games.

Conclusion

In the end, the question that we need to pose is, "Does football need the Olympics?" I would state that football is fine where it is. It has been estimated that 97 million people tuned in for the Giants vs. Patriots super bowl. Though likely to increase in these 2008 games, viewers for the 2004 games in Athens were estimated at 24 million.

American football is American. In the end would we want to share one of our greatest pastimes with the rest of the world? Many Americans enjoy the fact that we as a nation have a very independent spirit. Having our own sport simply magnifies that spirit. One thing is for sure, Olympics or no Olympics American football is here to stay.

Is There a Reason That American Football is Not an Olympic Sport?

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