American Pie VS Porky's

TALE OF THE TAPE

                 Title: American Pie                                                   Title: Porky's

                 Tomato Meter: 59%                                                  Tomato Meter: 32%

                  IMDB Rating: 6.9                                                      IMDB Rating: 5.9

                 Starring: Jason Biggs, Chris Klein                           Starring: Dan Morahan, Mark Herrier

                 Director: Paul Weitz                                                 Director: Bob Clark

                 Box Office: $102.5 million                                         Box Office: $105.4 million

                 Academy: N/A                                                           Academy: N/A

                 Year: 1999                                                                 Year: 1982

Ahh, virginity, That pesky condition we all tried to shake off in high school is the subject of these films. While neither is an Oscar-worthy film, both speak to, and reflect, the lengths that older teenagers will go through to finally experience the holy of hollies.

There's no denying that Porky's is the father of the teenage-sex comedy, spawning two direct sequels and a host of imitators like Hardbodies, Making the Grade, Revenge of the Nerds, Losin' It, and more. Although released in 1982, the film takes place in the more "innocent" time period of Americana, the early 50's. This of course, shows that despite what our parents say, they were sex nuts too at our age. With a box office of over a $100 million for 1982, this film was a huge success. With critics however, not so much. But than again, Porky's will always be a guilty pleasure, one you may not admit to others in certain circles. Bob Clark directs this film giving the material some meat. Despite the premise and full frontal nudity (both male and female, unheard of at the time) of this picture, there is also some drama, including racism, domestic abuse, and friendship. Porky's would inspire two theatrical sequels.

American Pie was released in 1999, and brought with it a resurgence of the teenage-sex comedy. Again we see teenagers, all seniors, making a vow to lose their virginity by prom. Unlike Porky's, target audiences can relate as the film is set in a modern context. This allows for sexual situations unheard of in 1982, like the internet, web cams, etc. In their tireless quest to shake the big "V", they get into all sorts of situational comedies. More introspective than Porky's, these characters develop along the way as they learn about love, friendship, and about themselves. With a better cast of actors, including Eugene Levy, Jason Biggs, and Sean William Scott, this effort was far more realized. A popular film, and slightly more accepted by critics, American Pie launched two modest sequels and a slew of direct-to-dvd spin-offs.

As of now (2011) American Pie is still accessible to current audiences some 12 years later, where as Porky's has that old school feel. While the subject matter and the comedy are universal in both films, American Pie will deceptively seem more edgy. Old timers will tell you that it was Porky's who pushed the envelope further than any other film of its type. With American Pie in it's prime and Porky's coming out of retirement, the early rounds go toward American Pie. But Porky's has endured for over 30 years, and still packs a punch even by today's standards. Pie becomes arm weary in the later rounds, while Porky's hits with several combos getting a TKO in round 8.


Winner: Porky's