Van Wilder

Plot

The most popular kid on campus meets a beautiful journalist who makes him realize that maybe he's afraid to graduate.

Release Year: 2002

Rating: 6.2/10 (44,658 voted)

Critic's Score: 26/100

Director:
Walt Becker

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid, Tim Matheson

Storyline
Van Wilder is a guy who has been at his college for seven years. He spends most of his time throwing parties and "fund raisers". When his father decides that it's time for tough love, he doesn't pay his tuition. So Van becomes a professional party thrower. At the same time, Gwen who writes for the college paper, is tasked with doing a story on him, but Van is too busy partying to do that. So she writes it using info from people who talk about him and writes an unflattering piece, which doesn't make him happy. He then dares her to see if she can get the true story but is more interested in trying to score with her, which is not easy because she has a boyfriend, who is a snob, and who is not too happy with the amount time she is spending with him. So he tries to get rid of him.

Writers: Brent Goldberg, David Wagner

Cast:

Ryan Reynolds
–

Van Wilder

Tara Reid
–

Gwen Pearson

Tim Matheson
–

Vance Wilder Sr.

Kal Penn
–

Taj Mahal Badalandabad

Teck Holmes
–

Hutch

Daniel Cosgrove
–

Richard Bagg

Deon Richmond
–

Mini Cochran

Alex Burns
–

Gordon

Emily Rutherfurd
–

Jeannie

Paul Gleason
–

Professor McDoogle

Erik Estrada
–

Himself

Curtis Armstrong
–

Campus Cop

Jason Winer
–

Panos Patakos

Chris Owen
–

Suicidal Freshman

Simon Helberg
–

Vernon

Taglines:
If you're going for an advanced degree in partying…Why graduate?

Release Date: 5 April 2002

Filming Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $6,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $7,302,913
(USA)
(7 April 2002)
(2022 Screens)

Gross: $21,005,329
(USA)
(12 May 2002)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min
 |
USA: 94 min
(unrated version)

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Many of the story elements in "Van Wilder" came from a Rolling Stone article called "The Undergraduate," about the college career of comedian Bert Kreischer which was optioned by Oliver Stone.

Goofs:

Continuity:
Van's doodle repeatedly flips over between shots when Van visits Gwen in the women's locker room.

Quotes:

Van Wilder:
[while the dog is walking away, and his balls have shrunk]
Looks like all he needed was a little TLC

User Review

A big surprize

Rating: 8/10

i didn't expect much coming into this movie, i didn't hear much about
it and Van wilder was one of the national lampoon movies without Chevy
Chase. however this movie surpassed all my expectations. Van Wilder
defines the slapstick teen comedy of the new millennium. loaded with
sexual humor and innuendo, Van Wilder keep the laughs coming. i believe
Tara Reid was at her hottest in this movie, and believe it or not, there
are a ton of quotable lines to live by in this film. as for the plot,
its just about some guy who doesn't wanna leave the college he calls
his home until he meets a girl that makes him realize his own
potential. this film was much better then the last 2 American pies put
together. this is a true popcorn movie to watch with your friends.