Van Wilder: Freshman Year - A Prequel's Party Problems
Sometimes prequels hit the mark, expanding on beloved stories and characters. Other times, they fall flat, failing to capture the magic of the original. "Van Wilder: Freshman Year," the 2009 prequel to the cult classic "National Lampoon's Van Wilder," unfortunately leans towards the latter. This direct-to-DVD release attempts to explore the origins of the legendary Van Wilder, but ultimately stumbles due to a farfetched plot, uninspired humor, and a lack of originality.
Plot Overview
The film begins with Van Wilder (Jonathan Bennett) graduating from high school. Originally planning a trip to Amsterdam with his father (Linden Ashby), Van is forced to embark on his college journey solo to Coolidge College, his father’s alma mater, due to his father’s business obligations. Eager to follow in his father's footsteps and have an unforgettable college experience, Van arrives at Coolidge College. However, he quickly discovers that the school is no longer the party haven it once was.
Dean Charles Reardon (Kurt Fuller), an uptight and self-righteous administrator, has imposed strict rules forbidding smoking, drinking, drugs, and even kissing. Van finds himself rooming with Farley (Nestor Aaron Absera), a pothead, and Yu (Jerry Shea), a Chinese exchange student. Reardon, fearing Van's rebellious nature, forces him and his roommates to join the school’s ROTC program. There, Van clashes with the hotheaded Lt. Dirk Arnold (Steve Talley) and his cohort Corporal Benedict.
Adding to his challenges, Van falls for Kaitlin Hayes (Kristin Cavallari), his ROTC commander and Dirk’s girlfriend. Undeterred, Van and his new friends decide to challenge the new rules and bring the party back to Coolidge College. As Van attempts to win Kaitlin's heart, he also faces off against Dirk in a series of humorous and outrageous contests. The film follows Van and his friends as they navigate the highs and lows of college life, from pursuing romantic interests to outsmarting the college's administration. In the end, Van triumphs over Dirk and wins Kaitlin's heart.
A Retread of Familiar Territory
The plot of "Van Wilder: Freshman Year" borrows heavily from the original "Van Wilder," as well as elements from other classic college comedies like "Animal House" and "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off." The film struggles to establish its own identity, feeling more like a rehash of familiar tropes than a fresh take on the Van Wilder story.
Read also: A Prequel's Party Problems
The movie also suffers from an identity crisis, unsure whether it wants to be a raunchy sex comedy or a romantic comedy. It attempts to blend both genres, but fails to execute either effectively. Much of the film relies on grossness, sex gags, sexual innuendo, nudity, and profanity, but these elements feel forced and uninspired.
Stereotypical Characters
Unfortunately, the characters in "Van Wilder: Freshman Year" are largely stereotypical and one-dimensional. Van’s roommate, Farley, is a white pothead who talks like a black Jamaican, while Yu Dum Fuk, his Chinese friend, is the standard exchange student desperate to lose his virginity. The love interest, Kaitlin, is portrayed by Kristin Cavallari, whose performance is comparable to Tara Reid's in the original film. The villain, Dirk Arnold, is a militant and unlikeable character.
Jonathan Bennett faces the difficult task of stepping into Ryan Reynolds' shoes as Van Wilder. While Bennett is decent enough in the role, he lacks the charm and charisma that made Reynolds' portrayal so memorable. The supporting cast members fail to make a strong impression, further detracting from the film's overall quality.
Production Details
"Van Wilder: Freshman Year" is a Paramount Famous/Tapestry Films Production, directed by Harv Glazer. The film was produced by Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy, and Andrew Panay, with a screenplay by Todd McCullough, based on characters created by Brent Goldberg and David T. Wagner. Shawn Maurer served as the cinematographer.
The film was released directly to DVD and Blu-ray on July 14, 2009, by Paramount Home Entertainment. The home media release features both an unrated and a rated version of the film, giving viewers the choice between the two editions.
Read also: National Lampoon's Van Wilder: A Look Back
Home Media
The video is available in widescreen color presented at the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, which is enhanced for 16:9 TVs. The quality is pretty good with some slight graininess noticeable in some scenes. The audio is available in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound, with subtitles in English, Spanish, and French. The dialogue and music come out loud and clear.
The DVD and Blu-ray releases also include a variety of bonus features such as an audio commentary with actors Jonathan Bennett, Kristin Cavallari, and Steve Talley, as well as director Harvey Glazer. There is also a "making of" featurette, a featurette on filming in Decatur, Georgia, and a "Hills" spoof starring Kristin Cavallari.
Read also: Van Wilder: Freshman Year Streaming Options
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