Eugene Levy’s American Pie Scene Still Haunts Him

It’s hard to look back at a stack of late-90s comedies without wincing a bit. Flicks like There’s Something About Mary, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and Swingers all had their moments, but they’re now seen in a different light thanks to changing social standards. Among them, American Pie stands out for copping a fair bit of criticism. Released right at the end of the decade, it captured a certain teenage optimism, with a group of mates all chasing the same goal—losing their virginity before finishing school. The film’s cheeky tone and over-the-top antics were what drew punters in, but the consequences of those antics were often brushed aside.

One thing you can’t ignore is how American Pie gave us the term “MILF”, which has stuck around in pop culture more than any other line from the film. There were also the infamous webcam blunders, the super glue disaster, and, of course, the scene with the apple pie. That last one, involving the main character Jim and a dessert, has left a lasting impression—especially because it featured Eugene Levy as Jim’s awkward dad, adding just the right amount of cringe for everyone watching.

Levy’s Reluctant Legacy

More than two decades on, Levy still gets reminded of that scene wherever he goes. Despite a career packed with standout roles, fans can’t help but bring up that toe-curling moment. He’s admitted it’s become a bit much, saying,

“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.”

Even with his more recent success, the shadow of that pie scene follows him around, whether he likes it or not.

Changing Tastes and Cultural Shifts

Jason Biggs, who played Jim, has taken a different approach. Rather than shy away, he’s leaned into the joke, teaming up with brands for apple pie promos and poking fun at the whole thing. But he’s also been upfront about how the film’s content wouldn’t fly today. He’s said,

“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’s legacy is a reminder of how much things have shifted, with what was once seen as harmless fun now viewed through a more critical lens.

Pop Culture’s Lasting Bite

With the festive season rolling in and desserts making the rounds, it’s almost impossible not to think of that infamous scene. For Levy, it’s a reminder that some roles stick with you, no matter how much you’d rather move on. For everyone else, it’s a snapshot of a different era—one that’s both cringeworthy and oddly nostalgic.