AMERICAN PIE 2

Universal Studios Home Video

Collector's Edition Widescreen DVD, $26.98

This smash sequel picks up one year after the conclusion of American Pie and finds the entire gang just completing their first year of college.  Looking to have some fun, Jim, Stifler, Finch, Kevin and Oz, rent a beach house by the lake with designs on throwing an unforgettable party at summer's end.  Their vacation, however, becomes a series of hilarious misadventures that ultimately strengthen the group's friendship.           

American Pie 2 stars Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Eugene Levy.  The movie was directed by J.B. Rogers, produced by Warren Zide, Craig Perry and Chris Moore, and features music by David Lawrence.  This rated-R version has a feature running time of 105 minutes.           

This DVD is presented in an anamorphic widescreen version (1.85:1).  The overall quality of the transfer is very good.  Images are clean and colors are vibrant with fully saturated hues.  There is solid contrast and dark black levels.  While grain is visible in several scenes, picture defect mastering is commendable with no major flaws or digital compression artifacts.  (For those who prefer it, a separate full screen DVD (4:3) is also available for this R-rated version of the movie that includes identical language and bonus content.) 

Video Rating: 7 out of 10

The following spoken language options are available on this disc: English DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1, and French Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround.  The following subtitle tracks are available on this disc: English closed captions.  The English DTS 5.1 track is the basis for this review.  Dialogue is natural sounding and free of distortion.  The surround channels are active but primarily used for music and ambient sound effects.  Discrete directional effects are present only across the forward channels.  The LFE channel is mellow and used exclusively to add depth to the music soundtrack.

Audio Rating: 7 out of 10

The tactile sound effects for this DVD appear in the form of subtle sensations and are present in roughly one-third of the chapters.  The best examples of this tactile information come courtesy of the music soundtrack, in particular, chapters 6, 12, 15 and 18.  

Tactile Sound Effects Rating: 5 out of 10

Bonus features include 4 separate audio commentaries; 2 featurettes (Baking of American Pie 2 and Good Time with Cast & Crew); 3 Doors Down Be Like That music video; 7 deleted scenes; outtakes; screen tests from original film; cast & crew filmographies; viewer's Top 10 scenes; special chapter menus arranged by music and classic movie lines; production notes; theatrical trailer with Jason Biggs intro; The Bourne Identity trailer; scene access and DVD-ROM content.

Bonus Features Rating: 9 out of 10