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See This Not That: 'Romy & Michele' Over 'American Reunion'

In our new column See This Not That, we’ll break down two different — but kinda sorta related — films for you every Tuesday.

This week, what’s the difference between an "American Reunion" and "Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion"? Plenty. Which one should you see this Saturday night however, may boil down to battle of the sexes …

'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion'

A quirky '90s galmance (men have bromance, so why can’t we have a word for our BFF love?), "Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion" stars Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow as two late twentysomething ladies living the dream in L.A. Well, maybe not exactly “the dream.” Romy is a cashier at a Jaguar dealership while Michele is unemployed, although she keeps busy designing clothes that channel Judy Jetson by way of the Valley.

They’re happy enough until their upcoming reunion causes them to reflect on past wrongs they suffered at the hands of their school’s resident mean girls. The ditzy duo hatch a plan to be the envy of their former enemies at the reunion by pretending to be the inventors of Post-its. There are plenty absurd dance numbers, screwy fantasy sequences where old ladies flip each other off on their death beds and endlessly quotable squabbles ("I'm the Mary and you're the Rhoda!"). It’s also bursting with high school wisdom and fitness tips, like when you're weighing yourself, don’t forget to add 16 pounds for your shoes. Its only downfall is that it has a few pacing lulls that should have been edited it out.

The film also features salty comedienne Janeane Garofalo and "True Blood" vamp Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) playing a catty human, as well as Alan Cumming as a smokin' former nerd. "Romy & Michele" provides fun for girls and boys alike, though it definitely tilts towards the chick flick genre.

'American Reunion'

"American Reunion," on the other hand, for sure leans towards a more testosterone-fueled film sensibility. Smooshed penis shots, revenge poops… It’s pretty much what every guy would expect and hope for in a movie that's part of the "American Pie" franchise. In this installment, which comes out on DVD July 10, Jim, Michelle, Stifler and friends (Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott) reunite in East Great Falls, Michigan, for their high school reunion. Though not much has changed for Stifler or his sexy mom (Jennifer Coolidge), the rest of the gang has grown up and settled down, more or less.

New parents Jim and Michelle are definitely experiencing some problems in the bedroom. Enter Kara, the little girl Jim once babysat who has since developed into a very sexy young women. "Reunion" is a nostalgic comedy fueled by "American Pie" jokes, Stifler's stale antics and a repulsive but amusing makeover for Eugene Levy. It’s a rollicking bro-tastic time for fans of the series, but it's definitely time for this "Reunion" to end.

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