National Lampoon's Van Wilder(2002)- User Reviews

This movie differs from the others mainly because the characters are likable and people you could in some point in time relate to. "Van Wilder" never falters into anything preachy or lifts you up with a heartfelt lesson in life moral. It provides you with humor and never misses a beat. "Van Wilder" just wants its audience to have fun, and openly invites you to their party and every character's spirit is graciously uplifting. I believe it transformed the National Lampoon franchise a makeover by increasing the ante by adding more crude humor and a more engaging storyline everyone will enjoy. But if you could stave off the vulgar language and props like a crotch enhancer that resembles a bong, it is still handled in a very subtle way.
While many campus comedies are usually cheap in production and the plots are disjointed, "Van Wilder's" script is executed with a reasonable pace and the script is extremely intelligent. It seems that scriptwriters Barry Goldberg and David T. Wagner who are inspired by the Ferris Bueller format, seem to know the right tools for well-prepared jokes and the off-the wall slapstick will leave a lasting impression. Helmsman Walter Becker who brought us "Saving Ryan's Privates" executes the jokes and physical comedy like a hot knife running through butter.
Van Wilder (Ryan Reynolds) is the undisputed Big Man on Campus. He has friends from all denominations, from the athletic jocks to the brainy nerds. Reynolds finds himself on a thin line between intended recklessness to good-nature craziness. He can turn a simple act of kindness into a series of obscene gestures without really giving much thought to his actions. No challenges in life are complicated to this dynamic man, from acting as a pseudo coach of a basketball team by by giving them the hope to win or organizing the biggest party to the top nerds on campus. Wilder's will to help people out is only held-back by his uptight father (Tim Matheson who ironically played a party animal in another National Lampoon installment, "Animal House"). Van Wilder Sr. has decided that after seven years on campus he has decided to stop paying for his son's tuition.
Wilder eventually has his reputation botched up a bit as he becomes the subject of the campus newspaper editorial lead by journalism student Gwen Pearson (Tara Reid) who's in a relationship with fraternity boy Richard Bagg (Daniel Cosgrove), who conducts rituals that are more unorthodox than what we've seen in "Animal House". When Gwen wanted the naked truth about Van Wilder, well...let's just say she got more than what she expected. But through persuading he to show her wild side, her interests in him go beyond the parameters of the school newspaper. And so a turf war ensues between Van and Richard.
The battle of revenge leaves no stone unturned. Even innocent bystanders get involved in the rumble including a scene where young boys start retching out of a school bus in one of Van Wilder's parties. But it's all in good fun to them. Richard's gangs of frats were given a basket full of eclairs rigged with semen from a dog. Or a a character gulps man juice before his exam.
The movie's manic actions never stops the moments the camera rolls. It even goes far beyond the most physical crude comedies ever go through in their duration. The jokes don't all work but the efforts displayed by all those who've contributed in making the movie funny is purely from the heart. The scene where the virgin gets his first ***** is pretty messed up comedy wise should have been cut. Also where Wilder charms a frumpy administrator and the over explicit may have stepped up to the ante a bit too much. But the character of Van Wilder conquers all and his quirky ways of life are a hilarious riot. In the end with all the zany antics happening, you probably will have to watch this movie again to remember all the funny scenes.