AMERICAN PIE

It went by like it was only 19 years,” chuckles co-director Paul Weitz, reflecting on the two decades that have passed since he and his brother Chris served up American Pie. “I just watched the film with my 15-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son - which was perhaps an ill-advised decision, but I thought I might as well get it over with. Afterwards, my son, who has seen a few of my films, turned to me and said, ‘I’m proud of you, Dad,’” he laughs, marvelling at the absurdity of the situation. “It’s not often that you get to make something that impacts your whole life.”

Back in 1999, little was expected from screenwriter Adam Herz’s raunchy high-school script. Submitted under the bold working title Teen Sex Comedy Which Your Bosses Will Hate But The Readers At The Studio Will Love, it was a small Americana story featuring a bunch of unknown stars as soon-to-be graduates desperate to lose their virginity before prom. When it was released, it was a runaway hit. Three direct sequels and four spin-off features followed, while its cast, led by newbie Jason Biggs, likeable jock dude Seann William Scott, bandcamp fanatic Alyson Hannigan and a host of fresh-faced talent became household names overnight.

The Weitz brothers had created an unexpectedly warm, endearing and uncharacteristically balanced instalment in is certainly not without its fair share of infamy and eyebrow-raising moments - however, as its directors and cast tell , heart was very much at the core of their creative endeavours.