Cinema review (From Barry And District News)

Cinema review

National Lampoon's Van Wilder (15)

VAN WILDER? What the hell is Van Wilder? It's said to be a US box office smash, but why has it been so poorly marketed in the UK? When the title 'National Lampoon's popped up, I instantly thought of the films, Christmas Vacation and Loaded Weapon I. Hey, comedy.

Van Wilder is a bum who has purposely failed exams to stay at college for another year. Seven years, and counting, as a matter of fact. With the fact that he is the most popular guy around under his belt, Van is happier than ever, but when he meets reporter Gwen, his immature lifestyle appears to fade.

Sounds like a boring romance doesn't it? It didn't start off like that. It kicks off with Van having custom made trousers fitted (you'll understand when you see), and talking to a suicidal person while having no underwear on.

Yes, the teen movie with gross humour and sexually explicit jokes, which stereotypes everything in sight, is back and, by the looks of it, I don't think it will ever disappear.

Despite being daring with just about every single joke, it looks like the producers are trying too hard to top the likes of American Pie and Road Trip, but the result is a poor man's American Pie. Not only that, the serious side of the film is too much, leaving many concluding parts dragged out, plain and simply boring.

Brush that aside, and what you have left is a lot of hilarious gross jokes. But that is much what Van Wilder is all about. It's also enhanced brilliantly with Ryan Reynolds' perfect performance and director Walt Becker's clever camera tricks.

The toilet humour, explicit jokes, and stereotypes may not be good enough to topple American Pie, but it passes two hours pleasantly enough. They don't make films like they used to.