NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VAN WILDER: PARTY LIAISON (2002)

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid, Kal Penn, Teck Holmes, Curtis Armstrong, Sophia Bush, Tim Matheson, Daniel Cosfrove, Paul Gleason, Chis Owen, Deon Richmond, Erik Estrada, Aaron Paul, Teresa Hill, Tom Everett Scott

Directed By: Walt Becker
Written By: Brent Gold Berg & David Wagner
Cinematography By: James R. Bagdonas
Editor: Dennis M. Hill

This is your typical college party movie where there is nothing really at risk for the main characters except that the movie makes you believe it will be the worst thing in the world “Oh my god graduate and have to work for my father, Oh no !!!” there is pretty nothing here you haven’t seen in other college party films maybe just in different variations. There are plenty of gross out gags. But let’s face it no one watching this film is looking for or expecting anything approaching creative the thing that holds this movie together at all is the performance of Ryan Reynolds. He is charming and funny even though he looks too old for this film but at least they explain it. This seems to be where he started his comeback from Canadian tv star to his rise as a comedic actor of the united states. Until he buffed up and more tried to be an action star. He excels here to make a impressive on-screen likeable debut. The charm would carry over into other roles but here is where you get to see the first glimpse of it.

The only other interesting part of this movie is seeing actors now older who are veterans of this particular genre of film Paul Gleason (The Breakfast Club) Tim Matheson (National Lampoon’s Animal House, Up The Creek) Curtis Armstrong (Revenge Of The Nerds 1, 2, 3, 4)

There are plenty of ladies in state of undress in this movie so at least it’s more of a hardcore college movie that partially reminds you of the one from the 80’s but the thing that annoyed me was the main star who you would want to see naked Tara Reid stays fully clothed except for wearing a bikini that’s the closest you get. The women who do get naked are pretty much no names almost faceless since you won’t remember them. But that is probably not what you were looking at anyway. I don’t know what type of film stock they used but it looked cheap and that didn’t help my enjoyment of the film, with all the other problems in this movie it doesn’t help it’s chances of enjoyment.

I remember when the national lampoon stamp and name meant something a wild, rollicking low brow yet clever comedy now it seems just to be low brow this was supposed to be the brand’s comeback and while a hit on video maybe they should have aimed a little higher instead of buying up a independent comedy then putting it under the national lampoon cannon. I mean look at the movies they produced after this “The Hottie And The Nottie”, “Gold Diggers”, “Dorm Daze” That usually star ex-teen tv stars. I hope one day they go back to the quality of what they once were, but hey we all gotta eat and they have to do whatever makes them money. Though I don’t know how successful these films really are since they mostly go straight to Dvd. Yet always make the worst of lists.


If you like this type of film you won’t be disappointed but if you are looking for actually good movie and laughs, skip this unless you worship at the cult of Ryan Reynolds.

GRADE: D+