What can audiences expect from “Wedding?” Screenwriter Adam Herz explains, “I wasn’t so much afraid of ‘topping’ the first two, because I didn’t think of it that way. I just came at it asking, ‘Is what follows a natural progression in the lives of these characters? Is it real?’ And obviously and all-importantly, ‘Is it funny?’”
It'll ultimately be up to audiences to determine the answers to Herz’s questions, however Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan believe the third film has a heart, is funny, and is the natural next step in the “American Pie” series.
Did you two grow closer from making the three “American Pie” movies?
ALYSON HANNIGAN: No, because the restraining order really keeps us apart.
JASON BIGGS: Yeah, and then Alexis [Denisof] finding out about the affair.
ALYSON HANNIGAN: (Laughing) He keeps saying that.
JASON BIGGS: I’m all about the truth.
ALYSON HANNIGAN: But yes, definitely. It’s funny how similar ["Buffy"] feels to the three movies. Usually you do a movie, it’s three months and then you don’t see the people again until the press comes out. You never see the crew again. But this we keep coming back and it’s really become much more of a family as the TV show was very much like a family.
Do you miss "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" yet?
ALYSON HANNIGAN: I miss my friends. It’s just starting to sink in, because last night Alexis got his script for “Angel.” I was like, “Oh, I would have been getting a ‘Buffy’ script right now.” But it’s kind of liberating.
With Willow and Michelle you’ve had complete character arcs. Are you excited to let those characters go and explore what’s next for you?
ALYSON HANNIGAN: I am, yeah. I will treasure both of those characters, always, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of two amazing projects.
Was there more pressure to measure up this time around?
ALYSON HANNIGAN: I think there’s a higher expectation level, coming back for the third movie.
JASON BIGGS: Yeah, sure.
ALYSON HANNIGAN: Because the first one, it was just like, “Oh, well, this is what I wanna do.” And then the second one you’re like, “OK, well, I hope everybody’s gonna like it.” You start getting a sense of the outside world. But then the third one, I don’t know. I didn’t have that as much as with the second one.
How do you guys fight typecasting from these well-known characters?
JASON BIGGS: I haven’t been trying to fight it too much. I hate when people sit down and are like, “Yeah, I’m going to try to break free from this character. I really think I can do this dramatic work.” I hate when people talk like that. I don’t know, I’m just going to knock on the right doors, I guess. I’m going to have to work pretty hard and persevere, because it’s not going to be super easy. People want to cast you in what they know you to be able to do. I love doing what I do. I always want to do comedy. I don’t ever want to stop doing it, so I don’t know.
Does working with Woody Allen (“Anything Else”) and Kevin Smith (“Jersey Girl”) help?
JASON BIGGS: Yes, absolutely. Woody Allen cast me off of “American Pie” and “Loser.” Those are the two films that he saw and he cast me from [them]. So in that regard, “American Pie” itself is helping me break the typecast of “American Pie.” Right? I’m proud of my performances in these movies, despite the fact that they’ve, to an extent, pigeonholed me.
ALYSON HANNIGAN: But it’s not like you’re “Ernest.”
JASON BIGGS: What’s that?
ALYSON HANNIGAN: You know. Remember, like “Ernest Goes to Jail?”
JASON BIGGS: Oh (laughing). Because I thought, you know, I’m a pretty earnest guy.
