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National Lampoon's Van Wilder
EMAILPRINTArtisan Entertainment

Generally unfavorable reviews
Based on 24 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 38 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Comedy
Written by:
Brent Goldberg
David Wagner
Directed by: Walt Becker
Release Date:
Theatrical: April 5, 2002
DVD: August 20, 2002
Running Time: 95 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: R for strong sexual content, gross humor, language and some drug content
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid, Kal Penn, Tim Matheson, Kim Smith, Daniel Cosgrove, Tom Everett Scott, and Chris Owen
A hilarious coming-of-age story about the burden of facing real life...and the freedom that comes from not taking it too seriously. (Artisan Entertainment)
Also On Metacritic
FILM: National Lampoon's Electric Apricot National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
LA Weekly John Patterson
The film's sheer likability and very impressive gag-to-giggle ratio derive more from sweetness and sharpness than from shit jokes.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey
The result is a movie that is both laugh-out-loud funny and cringe-worthily silent.
Read Full Review >Variety Scott Foundas
There's nary a comic idea in Van Wilder that isn't ripped off from a recent Farrelly brothers movie. But that doesn't stop Van Wilder from being very funny, provided you're not easily offended.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Steve Simels
While not for every taste, this often very funny collegiate gross-out comedy goes a long way toward restoring the luster of the National Lampoon film franchise.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
Studded with Lampoon/John Hughes anachronisms.
Read Full Review >Seattle Post-Intelligencer Ellen A. Kim
The gags on which it rests its laughs have been lifted from every other raucous comedy, campus-oriented or not.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov
The laugh-out-loud jokery is in short supply, and Reynolds and Reid's kicky charm only goes so far. Bluto Blutarsky, we miss you.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Dave Kehr
What's lacking is the sense of structure that might have made Van Wilder more than a meandering succession of random gags.
Read Full Review >Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington
An unabashedly bad movie full of cliches, claptrap, fairly good rock 'n' roll and stomach-turning gross-out gags.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Gene Seymour
Those 24-and-unders who are looking for their own "Caddyshack" to adopt as a generational signpost may have to keep looking.
Read Full Review >New Times (L.A.) Bill Gallo
Merely labeling National Lampoon's Van Wilder "sophomoric" or "vulgar" doesn't do justice to the perpetrators' dedication.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle
Has to go down as a failed comedy. It's just not enough of a comedy.
Read Full Review >Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
Laughter for me was such a physical impossibility during National Lampoon's Van Wilder that had I not been pledged to sit through the film, I would have lifted myself up by my bootstraps and fled.
Read Full Review >Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach
A very funny movie ... in some alternate universe, maybe.
New York Daily News Jami Bernard
A movie that shouldn't be allowed on the same campus as "Animal House."
Miami Herald Charles Savage
This utter waste of time has next-to-nothing to do with the infinitely wittier golden-age National Lampoon movies.
Read Full Review >USA Today Claudia Puig
Even by teen gross-out movie standards Van Wilder makes "Sorority Boys" look like "Some Like It Hot."
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin
Reynolds and Reid's white-bread romance begs to be left on the cutting-room floor, but then again, so does just about every other scene in Van Wilder, which distinguishes itself only in featuring a level of ejaculate rarely found outside of hardcore porn.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan
The movie is really just an elaborate excuse to show repeated close-ups of an elephantine dog scrotum.
Read Full Review >New York Post Lou Lumenick
This is the sort of low-grade dreck that usually goes straight to video -- with a lousy script, inept direction, pathetic acting, poorly dubbed dialogue and murky cinematography, complete with visible boom mikes.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 38 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Sean F gave it a9:
I shall admit from the beginning of this review that I was seduced by Van Wilder (or should I say Ryan Reynolds) from the start. For me he plays the role of a man-child not wanting to leave university perfectly. The character of Van could have so easily been an unlikeable, unlovable idiot in the wrong actors hands, but Reynolds injects charm and a Jim Carreyesq humour that works. Admittedly this is not Shakespeare, and I’m sure it wouldn’t surprise British viewers that this was produced as another National Lampoon movie in the US. But the chemistry between Van and the love interest is believable and sweet. There are some genuinely funny one liners, the usual gross out gags (one that nearly made me gag!), and the overall tone of the film is a good natured 80’s style teen comedy. If Van Wilder was liaising a party near me, I’d be there in a shot.
R. L gave it an8:
Van Wilder consummate play boy. all time part animal. And a spark of hope and inspiration when needed, these are a few of the many things that make watching Van do what he does best so much fun. Van Wilder stars Ryan Reynolds as the title character in this hilarious romp. Wilder is someone who we all want to be and who are all on the inside. Wilder is a 7th year college student at Coolidge College he's the king of the campus and he's got a party going every night, and a girl left and right, every guy wants to be him, and every girl wants him's, but when Van's dad cuts him off and leaves him hanging in the wind he's going to have to come up with away to stay in school or lose it all. Van Wilder is a movie that's got it all, hot girls. Wild Parties and outrageous humor that you just can't help laughing at. It's the perfect romantic comedy that is right up any guys alley( or girls, the ones that can stand this kind of humor anyways.) but all in all this cult classic is not just a good comedy but a good lesson that if you live your life by partying and evading the future you'll never get anywhere. Van Wilder is a party you don't want to miss or ignore.
J E gave it a10:
A university/college student classic. We have a yearly showing on campus and its one of the most attended events of the year. Personally, its a favourite. Sure the acting isn't amazing, and the plots not deep, but It doesn't pretend to be anything but a fun, quotable movie. The reviewers are professionals, they look at films like a dog show judge looks at a dog. I love my dog cause it cuddles me and it fetches a stick, to me my dog is the best in the world, but it probably would be given a F- in a dog show. For its intended audience, and for just being funny, Van Wilder will always be a 10. I've quoted this movie more in my 4 years of University than I've quoted Monty Python, and that's quite a feat.
A N. gave it a10:
Classic movie. Me and my friends were rolling on the floor laughing when it first came out. I must mention that we do have a rather immature sense of humor, which is why this movie appealed to us.
Kevin S. gave it a9:
This movie was hilarious and all these critics are retarded and need to find a new job!
Mo K. gave it a10:
A college-comedy classic. SO many quotable lines and memorable moments. of course it's a lousy movie - but it's still hillarious. Reviewers need to chill out and stop reviewing every movie like it's an oscar contender.
Nick S gave it a10:
All around hilarious movie. Who ever gave it a 26 should be shot. All in all a great movie and something every college kid should own!
