Van could have and should have been much Wilder!

National Lampoon is trying to get back in the big time comedy game and I have to say this is a start. A start with baby steps.

"National Lampoon's Van Wilder" is the film and it stars Ryan Reynolds as a 7 year college student who knows how to do one thing exceptionally well, and that of course in Lampoon tradition is partying.

This film is part "Animal House", "Revenge of the Nerds", "Back to School" and "American Pie". Now it had a lot of laughs like those other films but it lacks the heart. Those other films will always pop up in conversations when people discuss their favorite comedies, but a week after seeing "Van Wilder" I would hazard a guess that most people will forget about it.

Van is living the great life of having his tuition paid for by his father, "Animal House" alum Tim Matheson, but havoc is wreaked on Van's life when his dear old dad decides that paying for seven years is 3 years too many. Van then must try to find ways to pay for his tuition on his own.

This starts the movie off on some major gross out gags and you settle in for what you think is going to be a top notch comedy. Instead what we get is a bunch of funny scenes with a very poorly written story weaved in to connect the scenes.

The side story to Van's money trouble is the student newspaper has its sexy blonde doing an expose on Van and his college career. This is basically a way to get Tara Reid into the film and to have her dress sexy but just tease the audience.

This is where I say that this film should have been Wilder, the makers decided to make this an "R" rated film yet they didn't take advantage of the rating. They continually run scantily dressed women in and out but only show a little nudity. Now I'm not saying that the film should be porn but what made some of the films mentioned above different was they didn't shy away from being true to itself. It seems like "Van Wilder" wants to be something but just doesn't have the guts to be it.

Reynolds delivers a strong performance and his timing is reminiscent of Chevy Chase in the "Fletch" movies and there are some other good performances. Tara Reid on the other hand is the same character in just about every film she is in. Sure she's nice to look at but after a while it gets a little old.

There are plenty of sight gags and gross jokes, and with the nudity that is in the film it should do well with the demographics it is shooting for. But be warned if you are looking for a present day "Animal House" you will need to keep looking.