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The National Lampoon franchise continued its nosedive into mediocrity with this lacklustre teen comedy. A spiritless melting pot of fratboy high jinks and syrupy sentimentality, director Walt Becker’s first film doesn’t seem to know whether it’s a cheeky romance or a moralistic farce. Feebly mimicking American Pie and its ilk (even casting Tara Reid as love interest Gwen), this tale of world-shy student Van Wilder, who will do anything to maintain his indefinite college stay, is just too bland to leave more than a fleeting impression. US TV star Ryan Reynolds lacks the personality and colour to play Wilder, while the humour is so weak that almost every gag falls flat. Even the attempts at “fashionable” gross-out tactics are distinctly third-rate, with the usual scatological and sexual themes hardly raising an eyebrow. This is a pitiful failure.
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