Gags about laxatives, projectile vomit, oversexed senior citizens and flatulent fat guys give the film all the zip and freshness of a lost Revenge of the Nerds sequel.
National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:86
Fresh:16
Rotten:70
Average Rating:3.5/10
Consensus: A derivative gross-out comedy that's short on laughs.
Rated: R [See Full Rating] for strong sexual content, gross humor, language and some drug content
Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Apr 5, 2002 Wide
Box Office: $4,208,429
Synopsis: Van Wilder (Ryan Reynolds, ABC’s “Two Guys and a Girl”) might be starting his seventh year at Coolidge College, but graduation is the furthest thing from his mind. Armed with a personal assistant... Van Wilder (Ryan Reynolds, ABC’s “Two Guys and a Girl”) might be starting his seventh year at Coolidge College, but graduation is the furthest thing from his mind. Armed with a personal assistant and a coterie of admirers, Van has reached the status of living legend on campus, throwing bashes that make geeks popular, raise money for charity and generally “inspire the uninspired.” But when Van’s father refuses to pay any more of his son’s tuition bills, Van must turn to party planning for profit in order to continue living in under-graduate bliss, thereby becoming the subject of an exposé by disapproving school journalist Gwen Pearson (Tara Reid, Josie and the Pussycats, American Pie). What begins as a clash of wills, however, soon leads to unexpected romance as Van and Gwen both realize they have a lot to learn from each other. The only problem: Gwen’s self-obsessed, frat house boyfriend, Richard, who’s determined, at any cost, to put a stop to Van’s rule as campus king. In the tradition of Ferris Beuller’s Day Off and Rushmore, Van Wilder: Party Liaison brings us an intrepid, visionary hero with the brains and the bravado to change school as we know it. Outrageous, irreverent and absolutely charming, this winning campus comedy is all about the burden of facing real life…and the freedom that comes from not taking it too seriously. -- © 2002 Artisan Entertainment [More]
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid, Kal Penn, Tim Matheson
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid, Kal Penn, Tim Matheson, Daniel Cosgrove
Director: Walt Becker
Director: Walt Becker
Screenwriter: David Wagner, Brent Goldberg
Producer: Peter Abrams, Andrew Panay
Composer: David Lawrence
Studio: Artisan Entertainment
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Reviews for National Lampoon's Van Wilder
The persons who keep attempting to make the National Lampoon movies funny seem to be confused about the difference between gross-out comedy and inventive gross-out comedy.
This is the kind of movie that Bluto, Otter, and the Delta House boys would have trashed a theater for showing.
Full of gross-out humor that is definitely disgusting but not at all that humorous.
... 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 ...
National Lampoon's Van Wilder may aim to be the next Animal House, but it more closely resembles this year's version of Tomcats.
Occasionally a joke hits its target, but that can be explained by the law of averages.
Not exaggerated enough to be a parody of gross-out flicks, college flicks, or even flicks in general. It merely indulges in the worst elements of all of them.
While not for every taste, this often very funny collegiate gross-out comedy goes a long way toward restoring the luster of the National Lampoon film franchise, too long reduced to direct-to-video irrelevancy.
Imagine Animal House with the unfunny Chevy Chase in the lead, instead of either Matheson, John Belushi or Tom Hulce, and you've pretty much nailed the biggest problem with this evil incarnation.
Latest News for National Lampoon's Van Wilder
March 08, 2007:
Yep, "Wild Hogs 2"
According to a pair of sources, director Walt Becker is all hot to get his "Wild Hogs" cast members back for a quick sequel. More...
November 30, 2006:
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This week at the movies, we've got a new take on the first Noel ("The Nativity Story," starring Keisha Castle-Hughes), endangered Americans in Brazil... More...
November 30, 2006:
Box Office Guru Preview: "Nativity" Leads Trio of New Releases
The post-turkey blues will kick in as the North American box office should slump this weekend following a busy Thanksgiving holiday frame. More...
May 30, 2006:
TV Staple Paul Gleason Succumbs to Lung Cancer
Paul Gleason, who frequently played figures of authority in his four decades-long television and film career, died Saturday from a form of lung cancer linked to asbestos... More...
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| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
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