Commentary: ‘Blockers’ Re-Contextualizes ‘American Pie’

There’s something to be said about stories that withstand the test of time. All tales are products of the time in which they are based. But times change. Societal norms are constantly evolving and what makes sense during one era doesn’t necessarily make sense in another. Even a few decades can show a drastic shift in perception. This is especially true of comedy as sensitivities can bounce back and forth. American Pie is a great example of this as viral clips have made their way around the internet showing the younger generation appalled by its sense of humor. But a much more recent film, Blockers, has the exact same kind of humor but approaches it from a more timely perspective.

Whereas American Pie is about a group of male friends planning to lose their virginity on prom night, Blockers tells the opposite story. It follows a group of girls who plan to do the same. However, Blockers adds another layer to the plot as parents of the girls (Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz, and John Cena) do everything in their power to prevent that from happening. The result is hilarious shenanigans that cause both parents and teens to grow as individuals and as family.

It’s hard to argue that both films don’t utilize the same type of content. If features teenagers talking crudely about sex. There are also some cringey jokes and moments in both films. The viral videos of youngsters criticizing American Pie prove that the film would draw ire if it were released today. Blockers had no such controversy. This is may be because it had an element of female empowerment and LGBTQ friendliness. This just goes to show that it’s not necessarily the comedy that modern audiences would have issues with, but the underlying viewpoints.

Blockers is now streaming on Netflix.