The film fought to get an R rating when the MPAA wanted to give it an NC-17. (The former restricts entrance to those under 17 unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. The latter absolutely restricts anyone under 17 from entering the theatre.) Go figure the morality of the rating system that punishes the simulation of sexuality as a way to better understand its nature and use, but allows the depiction of gun and martial arts violence. American Pie showed no actual nudity except in a really funny disrobing and strip scene embarrassingly broadcast over the Internet. As one wag on the screen put it, "God bless the Internet." However, the players were depicted (not literally shown) masturbating and stimulating themselves as well as engaged in intercourse and making love (the movie to its credit makes a distinction). 

Craig is sure his friends from the righteous religious right are back-flipping with horror over this film. Let them. If he had to discuss the foibles and realities of sexuality with a young man, certainly this movie with the issues it raises and answers it proposes would be a part of his approach.

Whatever the politics of the rating system, we indulged in American Pie finding it wise and yet fresh from the perspective of those who are just coming into their full power and awareness as sexual beings. Perhaps it is from this perspective of earnest innocence that we can all take a step back from our sexual and romantic foibles and laugh at ourselves. From puberty to nursing home, we all can find identification with the angst and plight of the young men and women in this rollicking, fun story.

We were impressed with the absence of an evil teen or teen group. Even the adults were caught up in the broiling insufficiencies. Jocks, geeks, band members, "everyteens", from the shyest to the boldest were all in their turn disrobed as in The Emperor Has No Clothes thus proving that we are all in our own way foolish in our doubts, insecurities, preconceptions, and pretentiousness, about sex and our bodies and as such we are loveable.

American Pie reached two particularly high points of hilarity that made that belly rolling ache go on and on. Once, when the jockiest and cockiest of the high school seniors drinks a cup with the after flow of another’s blow job mixed with beer. Another time, when a young man who obsessively refused to use the school bathrooms is given a prescription laxative and literally explodes, in the girls' head no less. Of course, there is the pie masturbation scene for which the movie gets its name.

As in many movies of this genre, the premise surrounds a pact by four seniors to lose their virginity by the time prom night ends. How and if they do it is part of the surprise for the four lads and us, but there is a big lesson for each as they reach a point of understanding that their drive and its satisfaction as well as that of their partners is not what they thought it would be.

At the core, this is a morality tale. It takes the precaution of condom use as a given, in many instances as a part of the humor, but always part of the act and as a matter of fact. Preaching to teens has never been nearly as effective as showing the integration of what is good for them (and us) with what is cool or funny.

Anna-Maria was delighted that the most sexually aggressive young one turned out to be a "geekette" who pulled out two condoms to help stem the premature ejaculation of her chosen boy-toy for the night. Both our votes for the funniest line go to her in a dominatrix position uttering to the boy underneath her, "What’s my name bitch?"