People looking for a funny, R-rated, raunchy comedy should be at the end of their ropes before watching Van Wilder. Van Wilder relies more on gross-out pranks and sexual situations, then on funny dialogue. Therefore, mostly teens will find this humor funny, while adults are likely to sigh, thinking "what disgusting act will come next?" Parents should know that this movie has tons and tons of references to sex acts, bodily functions, and body parts. The movie opens with a scene of what the audience thinks is oral sex (what we later find out is that it's a woman fixing a mans pants, while sucking on a lollipop.) A man describes with graphic detail about how he came to America to have all kinds of sex. A man is tricked by an elderly woman into having sex with her. There are 2 scenes of sex, and many bare breasts and a bare butt. One person almost has sex, but gets his back lit on fire and falls out of a window (the person is fine and it's all comical). A group of people masturbate a dog with very big testicles, and then a different group of people unknowingly eat twinkies filled with the dogs semen. There is are a couple of f**ks, s**ts, and many slang terms for sex acts and body parts. There is also use of marijuana through a bong and a group of 8 year olds, who drink till they throw-up. This movie reminded me of Animal House, so people who enjoyed that might have fun with Van Wilder. However it is likely, that many will just be bored by Van Wilder.
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
The grossest, most disgusting humor imaginable.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16 and Under
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of National Lampoon's Van Wilder was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this movie has the grossest and most disgusting humor imaginable, involving every possible bodily function. There are extended jokes about the size of a dog's testicles. Characters drink to excess. Van's beneficence includes getting compliant girls for boys who would otherwise not have anyone to have sex with.
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More on National Lampoon's Van Wilder
What’s the Story?
In NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VAN WILDER, college slacker Van Wilder (Ryan Reynolds), the big man on campus for seven years. His father (Tim Matheson) pulls the financial plug, and Van has to find a way to pay his tuition so that he can stay on for more of what he loves about college – parties. So, like any enterprising young man, he starts up a business: Topless Tutors. It is wildly successful until the strip club owner decides he wants his dancers back. Van finally finds his true calling in life – he's a party planner with a specialty in debauchery, sort of Martha Stewart crossed with Hugh Hefner. Meanwhile, intrepid campus reporter Gwen (Tara Reid) decides to write about Van. Despite the fact that she has a pre-med frat-president boyfriend, she finds herself drawn to him. And despite the fact that Van has spent seven years being benevolent but distant, he finds himself being drawn to her.
Is It Any Good?
It would take more time to list all of the things that were awful about this odious movie that it would be to watch it again. Around the slight plot are many gross attempts at humor involving bodily functions and excretions, both human and animal. They include a prank involving ingestion of dog semen inside éclair filling, getting children drunk (and having them barf), and feeding an extremely powerful laxative to someone just before an exam with no bathroom breaks. It is also supposed to be funny that Van is forced to have sex with an elderly woman who wears a wig. Are you laughing yet?
There is a half-hearted attempt to portray Van as all right at heart because he fundraises and befriends outcasts. There are cameos by classic teen comedies like Animal House, Revenge of the Nerds, and others, but all this does is remind us of how much better those movies were. The script is unforgivably sloppy, with dialogue that sounds like people who don't know very much English made it up on the spot.
Movie Details
Studio: Artisan Entertainment, Director: Walt Becker
Run time: 93 minutes
Theatrical release: 4/5/2002, DVD release: 8/20/2002
MPAA Rating: R for very explict sexual humor and language
Run time: 93 minutes
Theatrical release: 4/5/2002, DVD release: 8/20/2002
MPAA Rating: R for very explict sexual humor and language
Our Members Say
See all 8 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Van Wilder is less funny than the average R-rated comedy
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I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
inappropriate but hilarious
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I rate this title pause for age 16 and give it
I laughed and yelled at the language and sex stuff so my little siblings cant hear it
FUNNY. I laughed but had to yell at the bad parts so my siblings couldnt hear it. I like this movie but I like vacation, check my rivew for that too.
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I rate this title pause for age 17 and give it
Really Funny Movie, but really not for anyone under the age of 17
Contains a lot of explicit content in it, mostly sex wise. A lot of nudity, a dog with big balls, sex, language throught out, and of course, drugs and alcohol.
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I rate this title pause for age 17 and give it
NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VAN WILDER
VAN WILDER is an exceptionally funny but explicit movie. Basically an ANIMAL HOUSE for the new generation. Sex-10: Nudity including male, female and animal, sexual content including situations and references. Language-8 1/2: Very strong language Violence-0 Drugs-0 Racism-7: Sterotyped indian character My Rating: R for strong sexuality/nudity and some language
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
FFFFFUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking |
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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