‘Shouldn’t have made it’: American Pie star’s shock claim about iconic film

If you were to look back at teen comedy movies made in the late 90s and early 00s now, it's highly unlikely that you'd be able to watch them the same way. American Pie, for example, is one such film.

If you've never seen it, the plot revolves around four teenage boys in their last year of high school who make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night. The teen flick, which was released in 1999, features several moments that would leave current audiences questioning how the film was made.

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In recent years, many viewers have shared their thoughts on the movie after watching it for the first time, or the first time in a long time, and there's one thing that's for sure – many of them think the movie is pretty problematic, and if you've seen it, you'd understand why (that web cam scene, for one).

However, Thomas Ian Nicholas, who played Kevin in the film, tells Yahoo Lifestyle that the filmmakers "were pushing the envelope" and that "shock value" is all a part of good comedy.

American Pie star says they 'shouldn't have made' the movie back in 1999

Thomas' character, Kevin, is the one who comes up with the idea that he and his friends should lose their virginity by prom night and of course, this leads to some unsavoury moments (which were a common feature of movies at the time).

Speaking with Yahoo Lifestyle, Thomas admitted that the idea that the movie wouldn't get made these days is one he's familiar with, telling us, "You know, everyone seems to be saying this, but here's the thing – we were pushing the envelope then, and we shouldn't have made it then."

"I don't know what anyone thinks about the past of 25 years ago, we weren't more easygoing when it came to censorship," he continues. "We were pushing the envelope. And there was a lot of people, they're like, 'Oh no, I don't know if we could do this.' So, you know, that's the basis of comedy, is to have some shock value, and that's what makes it funny. It's like, 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe they said that!'"

"Everyone's like, 'Oh, I don't know if you could make that film today.' I'm like, 'Well, we couldn't make it then either.' So, it's nice to know that there's still room for us to shock some people."

American Pie viewers divided over film's 'problematic' themes

Over two decades later, the film is certainly still shocking people, with fresh comments popping up on social media as people either re-visit the hit movie or watch it for the first time.

"Went the cinema last night to see American Pie," one fan wrote last year. "Still hilarious from a nostalgia point of view. But f**k me it’s problematic 25 years on!"

"If you don't think it's 'problematic', then you missed the point of the film," another said.

One Reddit user described the movie as "gross and tasteless", while another said it was "painful to watch" and "very unfunny".

However, many others don't agree, with one person responding, "I enjoy them for what they are, good for a laugh if that's your style of humour, which it was back in the early 2000's...it really was one of the first of the 2000's style raunchy comedies, if not the first."

Another said, "It's been eons since I've seen them, but I was the right age for them when they came out. American Pie 1 was epic at the time. I remember seeing AP 2 on the opening night and ... the ... crowd ... was ... PRIMED!!

"Sure, it's a dumb teen movie, but being the perfect demo, seeing the second one on opening night in a PACKED and PRIMED theater ... truly one of my best theater memories. It was electric in there."

They added, "I'm sure if I watched them today, I'd have some nostalgia and a chuckle or two, but a lot of this comes down to right place and right time. Can't ever reproduce that ... ya know?"

A third agreed, saying, "It's great if you understand what it is, it was made over 20 years ago so you have to understand that but for what it is, a coming-of-age movie representing the 90s, or an idealised picture of that, I think it excels."

Someone else questioned, "Can it be both? I can enjoy it in the context of its time."

American Pie's most controversial scenes

In case you haven't seen the film, there are several scenes which are being labeled as 'problematic' for current viewers.

One scene in particular involves Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth), a foreign exchange student, being filmed without her knowledge or consent as she gets undressed and masturbates in Jim's (Jason Biggs) room. Everyone at their school ends up with the link and watches the webcam footage. Nadia's sponsors see the video and she is sent home to Europe, while the boys who filmed her face no repercussions.

In the film, Stifler's (Seann William Scott) younger brother watches on and says, "This is like the coolest thing I've ever seen."

One X user said of the scene, "The webcam scene in American Pie always pisses me off a bit more each time I watch it because what the f**k was the scene."

"It's wrong and not acceptable and they probably should've gone to jail. We learn from the mistakes and do better," another agreed, before adding, "I can still watch the movie and laugh even with hindsight."

Jason Biggs agrees that the scene is problematic, he told Buzzfeed News in 2020, "It was a very specific time. It was right as the internet was starting. We had that whole scene with the internet camera — which, by the way, would never get made now."

"It wouldn't get made now and it couldn't get made now," he said of the scene. "It would be unacceptable what that represents, but at the time I remember reading the script and reading that part and being shocked that there was cameras on computers! That's what I took away from it originally!"

"People are having these conversations, as they should be," he said. "Again, the internet has changed everything, but specific to sex and teens, the conversation now is totally different now to what it was 20-plus years ago, so the art that's made surrounding it needs to be totally different."

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He added, however, that he has no regrets about the film, saying, "Understandably it wouldn't get made now, but I'm still proud of the movie and my involvement in it and people's response to it."

It's also clear throughout the movie that the way the teenage boys treat young women was problematic. Stifler's character in particular seems to only think about women as a means to satisfy his own sexual wants.

Want to find out more behind-the-scenes secrets from American Pie?

Thomas Ian Nicholas is coming Down Under to attend fan screenings to celebrate the film's 25th anniversary.

On Friday, January 31st, Thomas will be at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Sydney, and then on Friday February 7, he'll attend another screening in Melbourne at The Astor Theatre.

The star will appear for a live Q&A and there will also be opportunities for photos and meet-and-greets.

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