Eugene Levy’s Reluctant Legacy: Haunted by American Pie

Comedies from the 1990s have not all stood the test of time, with many now viewed through a more critical lens. Titles such as There’s Something About Mary, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and Swingers are often cited for their celebration of themes that today would raise eyebrows. Yet, few have attracted as much retrospective debate as American Pie. Released at the close of the decade, the film captured a peculiar moment of adolescent ambition, with its central characters fixated on a singular, rather questionable goal. At the time, audiences were largely swept up in the irreverence, perhaps missing the wider implications of the plot.

One cannot discuss the film without mentioning its most infamous contribution to popular culture: the term “MILF.” This phrase, more than any other line, has become firmly lodged in the public’s vocabulary. The film also delivered a series of memorable mishaps, from webcam blunders to sticky situations with super glue. Most notably, there was the scene involving an apple pie, which has left a lasting impression on viewers and, it seems, on the dessert itself.

Unwanted Fame and Relentless Reminders

The humour of that particular moment was heightened by the presence of Eugene Levy, who played the protagonist’s well-meaning but awkward father. His performance added a layer of discomfort that resonated with audiences. More than two decades later, Levy still finds himself confronted by reminders of that scene, which has become something of a burden. Regardless of his subsequent roles, fans continue to reference that toe-curling moment whenever they encounter him in public.

Levy himself has spoken about the persistence of these reminders.

“Now it’s Schitt’s Creek. All over the world. People came up and talked about the show in pretty much any location we visited. The American Pie thing got a bit tedious. People would bring me apple pie every time I went into a restaurant or to a wedding. Which is kind of funny, but it did happen a lot.”

The joke, it seems, has followed him far beyond the film’s original release, often to the point of exasperation.

Changing Perspectives and Cultural Reflection

Jason Biggs, who portrayed Jim and was at the centre of the notorious pie scene, has chosen to embrace the absurdity. He has even collaborated with American brands to promote apple pie, acknowledging the scene’s ridiculousness. However, he has also addressed the film’s problematic aspects, recognising that such content would not be acceptable today.

Biggs remarked,

“That particular scene and the content of that scene could not be done now, and it shouldn’t be done now. It reflects the progress that we’ve made as a society in the last 25 years that we now think, ‘That’s inappropriate.’ It is, and it should be, but the movie stands as its own little time capsule – it’s a reflection of the times that we lived in, as most things are.”

The film, for better or worse, remains a snapshot of its era, capturing attitudes and humour that have since evolved.

Enduring Associations and Seasonal Irony

With the festive season approaching and the prospect of baked goods on the horizon, it is perhaps inevitable that thoughts may turn once again to American Pie. For some, the association is inescapable, a reminder of a film that both defined and divided a generation. For Eugene Levy, it is a legacy he never quite asked for, but one that continues to follow him wherever he goes.