Common Sense Media Review
Lame, horrid sequel is even worse than the first.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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National Lampoon's Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj
What's the Story?
The crazy college antics continue in the second crude, sex-laden movie in the Van Wilder series. In the first film, Ryan Reynolds played a popular student at Coolidge College, who decided that, after seven years as an undergraduate, he needed an assistant. So he enlisted the help of Taj (Kal Penn), a foreign exchange student whose goal was to lose his virginity. The two quickly became best buddies, hanging out and partying. This time around, Taj heads across the pond, hoping to further his studies at England's prestigious Camden University. Instead, he finds himself surrounded by snobby, uptight Brits. He makes it his goal in life to loosen them up.
Is It Any Good?
As you might imagine from the plot description, the movie involves many implausible and poorly scripted situations involving campus partying, drinking, sex, and crude humor. There's also a rivalry that develops between Taj and other students.
So what's the big problem? First of all, Van Wilder isn't even in this movie, so why name it VAN WILDER 2 (answer: to make the marketing folks' job that much easier)? Second, it's offensive, stupid, and completely pointless. Third -- oh, never mind. Just skip this movie and make sure your kids never see it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why movies like this keep getting made. What's the appeal of characters like these and their gross, over-the-top behavior? What would happen in real life to people who did these kinds of things? What messages does the movie send about college life? Do teens expect college to be like it is in the movies? Why do you think the movie is called Van Wilder 2 if the character of Van Wilder isn't even in it? How does having "Van Wilder" in the title work as a marketing/advertising shorthand?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 30, 2006
- On DVD or streaming : March 27, 2007
- Cast : Daniel Percival , Kal Penn , Lauren Cohan
- Director : Mort Nathan
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : MGM/UA
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : pervasive crude sexual content, some nudity and language.
- Last updated : September 21, 2019
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