Grade:  F

Director:  Walt Becker		Released:  April 2002
Writer:  Brent Goldberg		MPAA Rating:  R
Players:  Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid		Running time:  92 minutes

Ratings System

Is this what passes nowadays for a comedy that National Lampoon will attach its' name to?  What happened to the days of Animal House and Vacation?  National Lampoon should be embarrassed by this movie.  They should issue a public apology to anyone who saw it because they trusted the name "National Lampoon".

Van Wilder goes for the gross-out jokes that have been done much better in much better movies than this one (see Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary, American Pie).  Not only are the jokes tired, but the plot is too.  First of all, we know the guy is going to get the girl, so what's the point in dragging it out?  We especially know it when that girl's boyfriend is the guy's biggest rival.  Second of all, for a movie that promises lots of debauchery, there is surprisingly little, and (disappointingly) even less nudity.  There should have been boobs around every corner!

As always, the bottom line is that comedies are supposed to be funny; supposed to make us laugh; supposed to at least provide a chuckle, a smirk, something.  Anything!  Van Wilder gives us nothing.

- crocoPuffs