Fans will rejoice as the fourth film in the American Pie franchise stays true to form.

American Reunion

Cert. 15

4/5 stars

AMERICAN Reunion does what it says on the tin.

Happily, it doesn’t just do what it says in the trailer and nothing else-there are plenty of extra laughs, unexpected warmth and surprise moments that the producers haven’t prematurely revealed in a bid to lure audiences.

This is the holy grail of sequels, in that every single member of the original cast is signed on, along with writer, Adam Herz, who penned all four films in the franchise, ensuring that none of the magic is lost.

Happily, Jim (Jason Biggs) is still married to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), but their life as new parents has put a dampener on their infamously experimental sexscapades.

Oz (Chris Klein) has had surprising success and is now a well-known sports TV personality with a hot, young girlfriend and harboured feelings for his high-school love, Heather (Mena Suvari).

Everyone is still trying to avoid Stifler (Sean William Scott) who again, manages to wheedle his way in on the group’s plans and also finds a way to get his own back on Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) for sleeping with his mum all those years ago.

Jim’s dad (Eugene Levy) plays a pivotal role, and lends the film some much-needed respite from the relentless toilet humour and gratuitous nudity, by bonding with Jim over the loss of his mother and his problematic marriage.

As a stand-alone film, American Reunion is predictable and silly, but it gets 4/5 stars for being exactly what fans will have hoped for.

Ashley Whittaker