Tag: Chris Klein

FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN (2025)

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Directed By: Matt Palmer

Written By: Matt Palmer and Donald McLeary

Based on the FEAR STREET Books By: R.L. Stine

Cinematography: Mark Gyori

Editor: Christopher Donaldson

Cast: India Fowler, Fina Strazza, Suzanna Son, Katherine Waterston, Ariana Greenblatt, Lili Taylor, Chris Klein, Ella Rubin, David Iancono, Rebecca Ablack 

Welcome back to Shadyside. In this next installment of the blood-soaked Fear Street franchise, prom season at Shadyside High is underway and the school’s wolfpack of It Girls is busy with its usual sweet and vicious campaigns for the crown. But when a gutsy outsider is unexpectedly nominated to the court, and the other girls start mysteriously disappearing, the class of ’88 is suddenly in for one hell of a prom night.

What hurts this film is that when it’s compared to the first FEAR STREET set of movies which were a trilogy they were so richly connected and had so much deaths even for their familiar elements they want you over.

Watching this film is a disappointment as everything is lowered especially in quality now. Don’t know if it’s supposed to somehow be connected to the other three films movie take place in the same town or just be part of that franchise a FEAR STREET, but this is very disappointing.

As this film plays more like a basic Netflix, nostalgic, horror film, it doesn’t even need to really be part of the fear Street franchise.

As it makes the same mistakes that those other Netflix films make where they try to get into the decade that it’s setting in this case, the 80s in the fashion in pop culture that the story soon Almost takes a backseat.

It also doesn’t help that all or most of the female main characters looks similar. so that at times it’s really hard to tell them apart other than maybe sometimes when part of their personality or role, Well help the audience Remember who they’re supposed to be, that would least all of the teenage characters look age-appropriate 

If you’ve ever seen a horror found this film is pretty predictable when it comes to its kill scenes, and as always, the murder scenes at times seem to be the only action, or the only noteworthy parts of the film, even though some kills remain off screens, though this film does love the show or have a lingering shots of people getting their packages, cut off and watching bloodsport from it

The film does have a good soundtrack, but it has one of the worst dance battle scenes I’ve ever seen in a film that is supposed to be kind of heroic in its own way.

While watching this film, it’s obviously inspired by other better and popular horror films of its lineage so that it feels familiar and it would be worth it if there was some kind of value or reason behind it all, but this film just feels so desperately to be on trend that things seem the more happen just because.

Making the film feel less than significant. There’s nothing special about it. It’s rather bland wear other than the violence. This could’ve easily been a PG-13 movie. The film barely has any momentum

Now again, I didn’t read the source material, but the film feels undercooked and predictable and then tries to go gonzo and it’s 30 even though by halfway into this movie, you will figure it out pretty much who’s behind the killings no idea and loves to present tired, red herrings throughout like the grizzled old janitor, who is a drunken likes to stare at all the girls.

Then one of the biggest names or teenage stars in your cast, and you give her such a minor role, and she’s almost one of the first people to be eliminated from the movie Ariana Greenblatt no she seem to have the most interesting character.

Then the movie Try to build its main character up so much that it feels like it’s a portrait or a character story without much death and it doesn’t help that I mean she’s already ridiculed around town but yet she has no negative aspects to her character. Nothing risky so like the film she’s kind of boring the only thing that saves The film is that short.

As even when it comes to the original trilogy any of those film separately as a single film is still better than this one.

This might work as a starter horror, film for some, or an introductory for people who are not used to the horror genre, but other than that this is just basic and bland with no sauce or seasoning.

Grade: D+

AMERICAN PIE 2 (2001)

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Directed By: J.B. Rogers
Written By: Adam Herz
Story By; David H. Steinberg & Adam Herz
Cinematography: Mark Irwin 
Editor: Larry Madaras & Stuart Pappe

Cast: Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Chris Klein, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Shannon Elizabeth, Tara Reid, Alyson Hannigan, Natasha Lyonne, Mena Suvari, Eugene Levy, Chris Owen, Jennifer Coolidge, John Cho, Molly Cheek, Eli Marienthal, Joanna Garcia, Lisa Arturo, Denise Faye, Casey Affleck, George Wyner, Joelle Carter, Larry Drake, Bree Turner, Nora Zehtner, Adam Brody, Kevin Kilner, Luke Edwards

Jim and his friends are now in college, and they decide to meet up at the beach house for some fun.

A sequel Was inevitable considering how much of a surprise hit the first one was. Though this one is very disappointing most of all because it’s rushed.

This film had a lot going against it. As it has a built-in Audience that expects the material to be on par or better than the first film. So there is an excitement watching this film, unfortunately, the film never rises to the heights of the first film. Never actually comes closer as it not only lives in its shadow but seems to be repeating some aspects of it.

The film has a different director which with the change seems to feel like the strengths of the film have changed hand with someone who didn’t know how to keep the elements as strong.

Most of the film is more for the same type of jokes and humor from the first film. Only here they aren’t as inspired. So that there is no real reason for half of them except for trying to shock or top the scenes from the first film. 

Which hurts the movie because they are obviously trying way too hard. Which doesn’t really amount to anything. As nothing really happens plot-wise and it’s More watching  them In their college years 

Most of the cast returns for the sequel except that excluding Alyson Hannigan most of the returning female cast members are barely in the movie except for cameos and small supporting roles. Which takes away some Of the excitement. Especially when they only Seem here in relation to the romantic entanglements with the guys from the first film More to put an ending with them. At least in the first film, we saw some of their hang-ups and fears. Here they are more like obstacles.

So that half the film becomes a kind of comedic romance as Alyson Hannigan prepares Jim For sex which seems Like a sure thing for him when Nadia comes back to visit. 

Though he slowly finds himself falling for her. That is really the only Sweet part of the film. It also allows Alyson Hannigan to become More of a full-fledged cast member. She fits the ensemble rather well.

As most of the rest of the cast is around and has their Storylines they are treated more as Minor primarily serving only the main plot of Jim. 

There is only one scene which is supposed to be a Centerpiece of the whole film that is memorable and that is when they are caught spying on two men who they think

Are lesbians and then once caught the guys have to do to own another what they want the girls To do to own another. While at first, it keeps raising the stakes it ends up never rising to the comedic height it could have gone and tries to set up. Which is pretty much what the movie is like. 

It’s Nice that the cast Comes together but just like the film they all seem here under contract and already onto their fame at the time. They’re never really there in the film. Not that the film gives them Much to do either.

Grade: D

AMERICAN PIE (1999)

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Directed by: Paul Weitz & Chris Weitz
Written By: Adam Herz 
Cinematography: Richard Crudo
Editor: Priscilla Nedd-Friendly 

Cast: Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Seann William Scott, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Shannon Elizabeth, Tara Reid, Alyson Hannigan, Natasha Lyonne, Mena Suvari, Eugene Levy, Tara subkoff, Casey Affleck, Chris Owen, Jennifer Coolidge, Lawrence Pressman, Clyde Kusatsu, John Cho, Christina Milian, Molly Cheek, Eden Riegel, Eli Marienthal, James Debello, Clementine Ford, Blink 182 

Four teenage boys enter a pact to lose their virginity by prom night.

This is a movie that holds a special place in my heart. As when I had My first job working at a movie theater this movie came out and I was 20 years old and I watched it many times. As did my co-workers and many audience members.

I remember the influence it had as a surprise hit. I was happy that three was a successful teenage sex comedy again in theaters that pushed the envelope but I’m the end had a sweet message and didn’t have the characters stay sex-crazed and juvenile the whole time.

Anytime I watch, it takes me back to a certain time and places in my life that I miss and at the time taken for granted but means so much to me now. This film is almost a vessel for that and my way of thinking at that time. 

This is one of those movies I will always enjoy for the huge comedic set pieces that at first come fast and furious but the. As the film Goes along becomes a little more distant but still there. They still Also manage to shock you. At first, when this movie came Out I think that is what audiences enjoyed the more shocking humor of it all. As it had been a long time that a teenage film Was that upfront about sex. And actually went there and showed some.

Another aspect to enjoying this film At least personally is if you are watching it with someone who has Seen it and getting excited for the big shock comedic moments that are coming and watching Them react to it.

One of the minor quibbles I have with the film Is that it’s Editing is annoying and horrible especially in the cutaways that work but if they were sharper would make the jokes the same way stronger.

What also works is that while there are some recognizable faces most of the cast are new to the big screen so we can believe them. For as the characters instead of stars. 

Just like the characters the film plays dirty and juvenile but sweet In The end. Where we end up caring about the characters. 

Now while there is a lot of sex talk and eventually even some in the Movie the film doesn’t Actually show as much as one would believe and really there is only nudity in one scene. Which belongs to Shannon Elizabeth’s character. Which made her a sex symbol and on-screen goddess for a bit that she never really followed up or really capitalized on.

The film had plenty of more sequels, but this one stays special as there wasn’t as much pressure for it to live up to, and pretty much was undiluted at the time.

This movie and series really show Seann William Scott at his comedic best even though he is part of the group he is also In Effect their nemesis or at least a villain of sorts who gets his comeuppance. To Me, he was always the standout in this movie 

This film also helped revitalize Eugene Levy at the movies already a comedic legend in some Circles. This movie broadened his appeal to a younger audience. So much so that he appears in most of the sequels even the straight to DVD ones of the time.

Throughout the Movie, it shows diversity even though most of the people of color are more in the background and never one of the major characters. This was kind of disappointing as this is obviously More aimed at more suburban Kids,  it while the feelings are universal the actions and atmosphere of the movie are more specific.

There are so many memorable scenes that are classic. So much so that the sequels never quite matched this film. No matter how hard they tried. In the end, though the film is about sexy it is also a film about relationships not necessarily romantic but between friends and others and how time spent with them can be a commodity 

Grade: B