Hoping there’s no honeymoon

Subtlety has never been the forte for the “American Pie” series and

the third installment only contributes to its lowbrow and crass

legacy. The carousing crew of miscreants, which seem perpetually

afflicted with adolescent immaturity and urges, reunite to plan the

nuptials of Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan).

Stifler (Sean William Scott) sees the wedding as the last hope for

a debauchery-replete bachelor party. And Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas)

returns as the quasi-urbane Lothario. Aside from planning the

bachelor party, these two find themselves pitted against each other

vying for the notice of Michelle’s bewitchingly beautiful sister

Cadence (January Jones).

More perfunctory plot development is also interspersed with the

lackluster humor. The wedding must be planned and executed swiftly so

that an ill grandmother can witness it before her demise.

Every aspect presents itself in such a mechanical manner that most

fans will be nonplused by the moderate humor, predicable mischief and

a film that horribly betrays its predecessors.

Some scenes are uproariously hilarious, but unfortunately they are

surrounded by endless theater silence and boredom throughout most of

the flick. Whereas the sequel was a scant drop in interest, the

precipitous decline, in what is hopefully the final installment,

leaves patrons reeling and begging for the credits.

If you wish to remember American Pie for the unique film that it

was, don’t allow this film to tarnish your fond memories.

‘Bad Boys II’ even better than the first

Miami Beach narcotic detectives and bad boys, Marcus Burnett

(Martin Lawrence) and Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) reprise their roles in

the sequel to the nearly forgotten film “Bad Boys.”

The handsome Lowrey and unbalanced Burnett served as a suitably

entertaining tandem in the first flick. The chemistry is still there

as these mischievous cops seem to search for ruckuses and skirmishes

in the fast-paced follow-up.

The partners have been sent to investigate the spate in ecstasy

business in South Florida. They discover that the cause of this

increase in drug use leads to one evil kingpin who has started a

brutal turf war to demonstrate and maintain his dominance.

To further complicate matters, Mike gambles his relationship with

his partner by entangling himself in a romantic intrigue with Syd

(Gabrielle Union), the stunning half sister of Marcus. At first the

relationship jeopardizes Mike and Marcus’ friendship but the drug

lord becomes aware of Syd’s significance to both and the rift quickly

becomes petty. Together they must save her after she becomes the

hostage of this madman.

“Bad Boys II” is more entertaining than the first and highly

intense, but equally superficial and insulting to a patron’s

intelligence. It requires a serious level of suspended disbelief to

enjoy its unlikely events. The gratuitous violence is also hardly

necessary.

This project is uninspired, unoriginal, but still competes well

with buddy cop movies. If “Lethal Weapon” was your cup of tea then

refill it with “Bad Boys II.”

* EVAN MARMOL is Laguna Beach resident. He graduated from UC

Irvine with a degree in psychology and social behavior.