Reel Critics

Jim Erwin

“National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” is a shallow teen comedy about a

college stud who rules the campus until he is struck by a pair of

stunning blue eyes, falls in love and decides to grow up.

What this movie lacks in creativity and originality, it makes up for

in banality and predictability. Although the content is R rated, the

target audience for “Van Wilder” is clearly a much younger group. It’s

hard to believe that anyone older than 15 will find this movie

entertaining. Luckily, the theater didn’t seem to mind selling tickets to

underage kids.

I can forgive a movie for being improbable and stupid, if it’s clever

and makes me laugh. “Van Wilder” isn’t a clever movie, and it doesn’t

have enough laughs to be worth the effort.

Don’t be fooled into believing National Lampoon’s promotions that “Van

Wilder” is another “Animal House.” It’s not even close. The guys of

“Animal House” were shamelessly politically incorrect and hysterically

funny. The funniest character in “Van Wilder” is Taj (Kal Penn), who is

nothing more than an ethnic stereotype.

Beyond close-ups of a dog’s testicles, and an obligatory fart scene,

there isn’t much to this movie. Party boy Van Wilder (Ryan Reynolds)

lives in a fantasy world where his actions have no real consequences.

When “Animal House” was released, there were a lot of people who thought

the Delta House had to be based on a frat at their college. No one will

ever say that “Van Wilder” remotely resembles someone they knew in

school.

Formula comedies are boring, but what makes “Van Wilder” truly awful

is the way it preaches to the audience about, “not taking life too

seriously.” Van and his friends repeat this phrase ad nauseum like a

Hallmark mantra. This movie will probably be available as a video rental

before the end of May, but it isn’t worth the three dollars.

* JIM ERWIN, 39, is a technical writer and computer trainer.