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National Lampoon's Van Wilder (Party Liaison)

National Lampoon's Van Wilder (Party Liaison) (2002)

tomatometer

18

Average Rating: 3.5/10
Reviews Counted: 88
Fresh: 16 | Rotten: 72

A derivative gross-out comedy that's short on laughs.

9

Average Rating: 2.9/10
Critic Reviews: 23
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 21

A derivative gross-out comedy that's short on laughs.

audience

78

liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 185,967

My Rating

Movie Info

The "National Lampoon" franchise is resurrected for another politically incorrect collegiate romp with this R-rated gross-out sex comedy. National Lampoon's Van Wilder revolves around the exploits of its title character (Ryan Reynolds), a seventh-year senior who's made it his goal in life to help each and every Coolidge College undergrad succeed in life -- or at least in bed. Van's charmed life seems to have an expiration date, however; his father (Tim Matheson) has cut off his presumably vast

R,

Comedy

David Wagner, Brent Goldberg

Aug 20, 2002

$21.0M

Artisan Entertainment - Official Site External Icon

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Cast

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All Critics (102) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (73) | DVD (25)

An uneven mix of National Lampoon-style high jinks (yes, it feels slightly dated) and Farrelly-brothers touches tossed in for gross measure.

August 9, 2002
Denver Rocky Mountain News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An unabashedly bad movie full of cliches, claptrap, fairly good rock 'n' roll and stomach-turning gross-out gags.

July 20, 2002 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

... Tara Reid plays a college journalist, but she looks like the six-time winner of the Miss Hawaiian Tropic Pageant, so I don't know what she's doing in here ...

April 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Execrable.

April 5, 2002 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The grossest, most disgusting humor imaginable.

December 26, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment (1)
Common Sense Media

Rude, crude, obnoxious, disgusting, and unfunny...

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed
Cinema Crazed

I know it's harder to write good jokes than it is rotten ones, but based on what's displayed here, it doesn't seem like the effort was even made.

December 2, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com
DVDTalk.com

...I will admit to having chuckled at an Erik Estrada cameo...

August 1, 2003 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews
Reel Film Reviews

Compare it to the recent Cameron Diaz-starring disaster The Sweetest Thing and you'll reckon it deserves an Oscar.

March 13, 2003 Full Review Source: RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)

...Mainly a collection of dumb sight gags, gross-out jokes, and comic sex, with a dull-as-dishwater premise and a spotty cast list.

February 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Quips Online
Film Quips Online

While Van Wilder may not be the worst National Lampoon film, it's far from being this generation's Animal House.

December 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Threat
Film Threat

Audience Reviews for National Lampoon's Van Wilder (Party Liaison)

Ryan Reynolds carries this movie no doubt about it.
March 20, 2007
jmanard52

Super Reviewer

Van Wilder is a decent little teen comedy with a fairly decent cast. Some of the plot has been recycled from better films, but it is mildly entertaining, but in the long run is a very forgettable film that is not worth rewatching or demands multiple viewing. National Lampoon's films by the early 2000's were becoming mediocre to decent, but Van Wilder isn't a bad film, it just isn't a good film either. I thought it had its moments, but never goes above what it should have been. If you're going into this film expecting another Animal House, you'll sadly be mistaken. The film boasts some laughs here and there, and Ryan Reynolds, who I find to be not too bad in terms of acting, makes the film quite enjoyable. There was plenty of room for improvement and considering that National Lampoon has some terrific comedies under their belt, the material could definitely be better. I think that Van Wilder leaves a lot to be desired and it could have been rewritten a few times in order to really make it a stand out feature. Walt Becker's direction is pretty good considering the so-so material. Expect to be mildly entertained by this one; however don't expect anything memorable as this one just doesn't hold like others like Animal House and Porky's. But it does provide decent comedic material even if it's not that good of a movie. Van Wilder is worth seeing once for what it's worth. The film does leave a lot to be desired and you are left wanting more out of the movie.
April 3, 2013
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

    1. Richard Bagg: Damn it, Gwen, pick it up. I know you're there. You know I have my Northwestern interview next week. Look, I need you to help me 'release'... some pressure. You know, help me 'relax.' Just so we're clear, I'm talking about intercourse. I know you had a fling with Wilder. And it's okay. You just had to get it out of your system. I just hope you used some protection. And I wouldn't want our future children to be tainted because Mommy went slumming one night back in college.
    2. Gwen Pearson: Why don't you go 'release' your own pressure? And just so we're clear, I'm telling you to go fuck yourself!
    – Submitted by Boyan R (9 months ago)
    1. Van Wilder: you shouldn't take life too seriously. you'll never make it out alive
    – Submitted by Michael C (2 years ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • National Lampoon's Van Wilder (DE)
  • Van Wilder: Party Liaison (UK)
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