USA: FROM ADAM SANDLER THE DIRECTOR OF 'THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY', NEW MOVIE ' AMERICAN PIE' IS A SUMMER BOX OFFICE HIT

Record ID: 705318

  • Title: USA: FROM ADAM SANDLER THE DIRECTOR OF 'THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY', NEW MOVIE ' AMERICAN PIE' IS A SUMMER BOX OFFICE HIT
  • Date: 18th June 1999
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JULY 23, 1999) (REUTERS) PAN FROM MOVIE THEATRE EXTERIOR TO RED CARPET ARRIVAL LINE AT FILM PREMIERE CAMERA CUTAWAY SOUNDBITE (English) FILM CO-STAR JASON BIGGS SAYING "It's amazing. I'm on cloud nine. It's just like, I had no idea. We knew we were part of something special, we had no idea it would open number one, it's unbelievable."
  • Embargoed: 3rd July 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8GVI0BDSNV7PZKSQUR13XCMFS
  • Story Text: Following in the tradition of "There's Something About Mary" and any number of Adam Sandler movies, teen gross-out comedy "American Pie" has sated film-goers baser appetites, carving out a large slice of the summer box office action.
    Widely being credited with this low-budget film's success is a scene involving the titular pie and a male character's attempts to lose his virginity! With a cast of little-known actors and a team of brothers making their directing debut, "American Pie" has carved away an $80 million slab of the ticket-office take and millions of dollars of free publicity from the incessant media chatter about its portrayal of coming-of-age shenanigans.
    The film's co-star Jason Biggs, he of the encounter with the pie, continues to profess amazement at the film's good tidings.
    "We knew we were part of something special, we had no idea it would open number one, it's unbelievable," said Biggs, who bears a passing resemblance to the current king of gross out, Adam Sandler.
    The film landed in first place after its July 9 opening, gathering $18 million from movie-goers whose ears were filled with word-of-mouth about Biggs scene with the pie, which he believes "has the potential to be a classic movie moment."
    Biggs stars as Jim, a normal, healthy, red-blooded guy desperate to lose his virginity.Ever since his parents walked in on him watching porno films on a scrambled cable channel, his desperation has escalated.
    At home, his well meaning dad (Eugene Levy) overzealously participates in his son's sexual eduaction, and things at school aren't any better.
    Hopelessly inexperienced but fueled by hormones, Jim and the other guys each try a different but equally outrageous approach to scoring with the female sex.The girls are just as anxious -- but also confused, trying to act cool as they romanticise and idealise what is basically just pure physical attraction.
    Alyson Hannigan, who plays Michelle, a chatty bands member who is handy with a flute, deflates these character's illusions of romance.
    "It's about adolescence, which predominantly revolves around sex," said the veteran of television's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."I know from myself I was a walking hormone and this film sort of portrays that and the messes you can get yourself into if that's your priority in life."
    Co-star, Tara Reid, who plays one of the lusted after teen queens, was attracted by the writing."The script had the edge and the rawness that most scripts are afriad to do," said Reid, who also acted in the recent "Cruel Intentions," an updating of Laclos' "Liaisons Dangereuses."
    "This script took the risk of doing it and that's what's so magical and special about it."
    For his part, co-director Paul Weitz was interested in the friendships formed during the uneasy high school years.
    "We really wanted to try to get some of the texture of friends hanging out before they are all about to part and go their different ways." And while he believes male teens will go to any length to cover up their affection with friends, "there's also a real core of friendship."
    "American Pie" marks the feature film debuts of the film's co-directors Paul and Chris Weitz.
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