National Lampoon's Van Wilder

Movie review by Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
National Lampoon's Van Wilder Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 18+

The grossest, most disgusting humor imaginable.

R 2002 93 minutes
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 7 reviews

Kids say

age 15+

Based on 8 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

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.

Community Reviews

Kayleigh P.
Kayleigh P. Adult
October 7, 2021
age 18+

An Inspirational Life Lesson Hidden by Collegian Antics

Let's get this out of the way. Vance "Van" Wilder Jr's journey is messy. He's a slacker who uses his fathers money to live at college, avoiding life and partying. That being said, Van does have some admirable qualities. He's inspirational, kind, and insightful. He longs to repay Coolidge College for the years of partying it has given him, and he does this by raising funds for the swim team and encouraging the basketball team to victory. While at the start of the movie he has no interest in graduating, he slowly learns through journalist Gwen that he is hiding. This in turn inspires him to start attending classes more frequently. This movie is his journey towards life. Yes, there is a rivalry between Van and Student Body President Richard Baggs, but while for Van it's mostly harmless college pranks, Richard is out for blood. Van's emotional journey during the spring semester of college is an inspirational roller coaster that, while raunchy, is heartfelt and warmhearted. Connect with your inner collegian, Become inspired, Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
patreviewsthemovies
patreviewsthemovies Adult
March 7, 2020
age 16+

story of a college hero - must see for anyone about to attend or attending college

Dont listen to the other prudes on this comment string, this movie was amazing. I'll admit its definitely not for ages 16 and under, but the jokes are hilarious. This movie tells the story of a man who spent 7 years in college and was adored by his peers, its truly a classic for college movies.

This title has:

Great role models
See all 7 parent reviews

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes some raunchy comedies better than others. Do things like clever dialog and interesting characters matter to you in a comedy?

Movie Details

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