American Pie has all the ingredients to become a movie, out of an increasing number of contemporary Hollywood films, that reconnects with the teen movie genre. The teen movie, by definition, consists of various coming of age comedy situations and dramatic scenes, portraying teenagers as main characters who are ready to take on societal issues and problems. American Pie fits the bill perfectly, as four high school friends deal with the pressures of teenage sexuality. The premise of American Pie is simple: A group of seniors make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night. This type of topic has been explored many times in teen film classics such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Porky's, and Revenge of the Nerds, but American Pie adds its own flavor to the genre.

The teen genre has a historical connection with Hollywood dating back to the early 1950s; the genre really took off in the 1980s with movies featuring the "brat pack," actors such as Anthony Michael Hall, Alley Sheedy, Molly Ringwold, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, and a host of others. But the prime person responsible for the success of the 1980s teen movie is director John Hughes. Hughes was not the first director to feature teenagers, but certainly he made the teen film popular and profitable, being credited for classic films such as Pretty In Pink, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and possibly the prize teen gem, The Breakfast Club.

Now there is a rejuvenated effort in Hollywood to bring the teen film back into style with a crop of fresh new actors. Several actors headlining these contemporary movies differ from their 1980s predecessors. Sarah Michelle Geller, James Van Der Beek, and Jennifer Love Hewitt all star in successful television shows as well as having emerging movie careers, a move that demonstrates the movie industry's desire to draw on the strong crossover appeal of these young stars. American Pie does not utilize any teen television stars; instead, it features first time actors such as Jason Biggs, Tara Reids, Chris Klein, and Thomas Ian Nicholas. The decision not to use television stars is one way in which American Pie has deviated from the norms of the teen movie. Of course, the film has plenty of the gross gags that are required in these type of films, but the director/producer team of brothers Paul and Chris Weitz make some conscious choices to challenge dated clichés of the genre as well. For instance, you will find none of the stereotypical female airheads; instead, American Pie shows the female characters as being both smart and ambitious. Secondly, American Pie deviates from the conception that older actors are needed to portray teens; the "teenaged boys" in this film actually act and look like teenagers. Finally, while the movie is about sex, the Weitz brothers make an effort not to present teenagers as sex-starved animals. Perhaps the most significant departure from the classic teen movie is American Pie's "R" rating from the MPAA film association. The movie's producers seem to be sending a clear message that contemporary and realistic teenage themes are far from the ranks of "PG." Overall, American Pie is a success in living up to the staples of its genre, while at the same time expanding and evolving the subject matter of the teen movie.

• The dorks get the girls. (Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink)

• White middle class kids attempt to get in with different elements of society. (Adventures in Babysitting, Weird Science, Can't Buy Me Love)

• Uncool parents conflict with teens who don't want to be like their parents. Usually the conflict reaches a point that results with parents and kids coming to terms with their differences. (Home Front, License to Drive, Breakfast Club, Nice Girls Don't Explode)

• Kids sit around comparing life stories (St. Elmo's Fire, Breakfast Club)

• Kids get to fulfill fantasies. (Ferris Bueller, License to Drive, Adventures in Babysitting, Weird Science)

• Kids encounter adult problems that provide growing-up experiences. (Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, Adventures in Babysitting)

--Provided by Catherine Jheon at infoculture.com

Contemporary versions of teen movies, such as American Pie, are still greatly influenced by the same formulas; however, they seem to have found new ways to attract an energetic following. Box offices were laced with teen movies such as Outside Providence, Varsity Blues, She's All That, Drive Me Crazy, and Can't Hardly Wait, as well as American Pie in 1999. The economic success of these films ensures that we will see more of the same from major movie companies in the upcoming years.