Movie #140 - Cruel Intentions

Cruel Intentions
Columbia TriStar
1999 - Rated R - 1 hr 37 min
Director: Roger Kumble
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Joshua Jackson, Swoosie Kurtz, Christine Baranski, Tara Reid

Ah, twisted rich kids and their sex games.  Based on the French novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, but with teenagers, this movie could have easily turned into a parody.  Thanks to its cast, however, the weird and complicated "bet" between two step-siblings actually works. It seems a bit excessive, but what else is there to do when you're rich, lazy, and oh-so-sexy?

Reese Witherspoon is adorable, even more so than her adult self just because of how petite and cute she is.  Actually, I think this is where she got together with Ryan Phillippe.  And a pre-American Pie, pre-plastic surgery nightmare Tara Reid is also pretty cute.

So this movie is weird, but it works. And, damn it, it's actually pretty sexy.

Movie #122 - American Pie 2

American Pie 2
Universal Pictures
2001 - Rated R - 1 hr 48 min
Director: J.B. Rogers
Starring: Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Shannon Elizabeth, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari, Jennifer Coolidge, Eugene Levy, Eddie Kaye Thomas

As sequels go, this one isn't so bad... mostly because the entire cast came back to do it (unlike the third movie in this trilogy).  No desserts are harmed in the making of this, but Jim's awkward sex streak rages onward and even lands him in the hospital, glued to himself.  How charming.

I think someone wrote his character to make us all feel better about ourselves. Schadenfreude is a beautiful thing.  And it kept selling movie tickets, so here we are. 

The story lines progress in a believable way in this one, with all the couples split apart because of college-related circumstances.  It's interesting to see them all regroup and try to recapture their high school days a year into college.  They do a pretty good job of it, too.  Some of the jokes are reused a bit too much, and Stiffler's little brother is a pain in the ass, but it's watchable.  You'll laugh and definitely feel better about your own awkard sex-capades after this movie.

Movie #121 - American Pie

American Pie
Universal Pictures
1999 - Rated R - 1 hr 35 min
Director: Paul Weitz
Starring: Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Alyson Hannigan, Shannon Elizabeth, Tara Reid, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy, Mena Suvari, Jennifer Coolidge

Iconic film of the 90s/00s? This is probably in the running.  It has hot girls, teen sex, comedy, fart jokes, and Stiffler.  So yeah... it's up there.  It also has one of the most notable lines in Gen-Y filmography: "No longer will our penises remain flaccid and unused!" As well as sparking a term that's still sticking with us - the MILF.

That aside, Jason Biggs is adorable, Eugene Levy is awkward in the way only he can manage, Mena Suvari is slightly less annoying than she was in American Beauty, and Tara Reid wasn't a crazy bitch yet.  Also, there's a LOT of young actors with three names in this movie... check out that cast list. Weird, huh?

So it is what it is.  There's pie humping, underage drinking, and jokes at a band geek's expense.  Also, there's now an irritatingly huge film franchise thanks to this little movie (honestly, why are they still making these? And why is Eugene Levy still in them?) But none of them are as clever and fun as the original.

Have your pie and eat it too!
(Sorry, I can't help myself sometimes...)

Movie #71 - The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski
Gramercy Pictures
1998 - Rated R - 1 hr 57 min
Directors: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid

Here's a classic film with a solid cult following and a classic plotline that harkens back to Shakespeare. (Which explains the adapted script Two Gentlemen of Lebowski...) Mistaken identities, missing money, weird group of crazies, lovable hero with obvious flaws. And for these reasons, it's really fun to watch.

Something about the supreme loserness of these guys is compelling. They really, really believe they're in control of this situation at some points... well, mostly John Goodman does. Still, it's endearing, not annoying as you'd think. I also have to add that never before has bowling been so epic.

The quirky characters and great performances in this movie sell it. It really is just enjoyable to watch The Dude and company in action.