The American Pie movies were the perfect parallel to the Y2K Era Zeitgeist

https://reddit.com/r/decadeology/comments/1c00m40/the_american_pie_movies_were_the_perfect_parallel/

Looking back, the American Pie trilogy released represent the perfect summary of the zeitgeist of the Y2K era and its prominence in relation the year each movie was released and comparing with the mentality of the main characters.

American Pie (1999)

The characters are 18 and graduating high school and the world is their oyster and there is so much to look forward to not just discovering you know what. The vibe of the movie is naturally very sunny and summer like and full of optimism.

In the real world at that time all things we consider part of the upbeat side of the Y2K era are really taking off, there is in retrospect a feeling of optimism and significantly this year is more or less when the Internet really takes off and becomes more commonplace as well as cellphones and text messaging. That in itself was a massive life changing development. And of course don't forget the usage of the Internet plays an important role in this movie.

American Pie 2 (2001)

This time the main characters return home for the summer after college and it feels like everyone is at their peak and on top of the world feeling immortal. Not forgetting that great quote from Kevin about "12 Weeks Of Immortality". This time everyone is at an expansion of high school age but this time with a bit more experience socially and sexually and striving to make this the best summer ever and very much like the perfect American varsity age summer.

By the Summer of 2001 everything we associate with the Y2K era has reached its peak and its critical mass and little do we know at the time that this is the furthest it will go. We like to think it will go on forever but little do we know this is it.

American Wedding (2003)

Definitely a feeling that the party is over and all good things are coming to an end but make the most of the last days of old. Jim is getting married to Michelle and with it comes all the serious preparation for the big day and the responsibility of serious adult life and the energy of the first two films is somewhat missing here but we still want to enjoy a last big party before reality kicks in.

Likewise come 2003 in the real world the Y2K shiny optimism had been very much deflated by now especially entering the new post-9/11 era it becomes clear that many of the upbeat and shiny things that made life fun were now on the way out and the novelty factor of other exciting things had worn off slightly but this year felt like a last hurrah and a final send-off to the era altogether.