Van Wilder (2002)
Synopsis: Van Wilder is hands down the most popular guy at Coolidge College and perhaps one of the oldest considering he’s been a student for the past seven years. When Van’s dad finds out he’s still footing the bill for his son’s education, he pulls the plug, leaving Van to make his own funds to stay in school. After planning a party for one of the fraternities, Van quickly becomes Van Wilder: Party Liaison, which brings in enough money for him to stay at Coolidge. In the midst of all this Gwen Pearson, a reporter for the school’s newspaper is asked to write an article on Van Wilder. When the article is published, it is an instant hit, which leads to Gwen writing a follow up article for the graduation issue. Gwen isn’t thrilled at the idea of another article because Van sees her interest in him as romantic interest. However, Gwen is already dating Richard Bagg, president of Delta Iota Kappa (DIK) fraternity as well as the student body. Richard sees Van as a threat when he realizes how much time Gwen is around him and doesn’t want Van to steal his girlfriend away. A rivalry quickly develops between the two, which leads to the infamous prank where Van sends the DIK fraternity pastries filled with dog semen, rather than cream. Richard eventually sets Van up at one of his parties by infiltrating the event with underage children. As a result Van gets arrested as well as expelled from school. While packing up his room his assistant, Taj, finds a way for Van to appeal to the school. In his appeal, Van pleads for the school to punish him by making him graduate and take the finals for his six remaining classes he has neglected for the past few years. To Richard’s surprise the school lets him stay. Van gets help with cramming for his finals from all of the people he has helped throughout his seven years at Coolidge. He almost screws up on the day of his last final, but makes it just in time. When Gwen finds out that Richard was behind Van’s expulsion, she gets back at him just before his interviews for medical school. After finishing her follow up article, Gwen sends a copy to Van’s dad showing him great his son really is. At his graduation party, Van finally gets Gwen and his dad’s respect for graduating.
Main Cast:
Van Wilder – Ryan Reynolds - The most popular guy on campus and a 7 year veteran of Coolidge College
Gwen Pearson – Tara Reid - Reporter for the Coolidge College newspaper and girlfriend to Delta Iota Kappa President Richard Bagg
Taj Mahal Badalandabad – Kal Penn - An Indian foreign exchange student who is hired as Van’s personal assistant. His sole purpose in life is to have sex with an American girl before returning to his mother land.
Hutch – Teck Holmes - The token black guy in the movie who gets high and mans the door of Van’s parties.
Richard Bagg – Daniel Cosgrove - President of Delta Iota Kappa fraternity, Coolidge College Student Body president and professional douche bag.
Vance Wilder Sr. – Tim Matheson - Van’s dad
Professor McDougal – Paul Gleason - Van’s nemesis professor
Memorable Quotes:
Van: Are you stalking me? Because that would be super.
Van: Write that down.
Van: It’s a date.
Gwen: It’s an interview.
Van: First dates are interviews.
Van: Don’t be a fool, wrap your tool.
Van: Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you there.
Van: I know Ms. Pac-Man is special. She’s fun. She’s cute. She swallows.
Van: Her name’s Naomi. That’s ‘I moan’ backwards.
Van: You shouldn’t take life too seriously. You’ll never get out alive.
Van Sr: Where can I find Van Wilder?
Drunk Dude: In the Guiness Book of World Fucking Records, man…under ‘Raddest Fucking Dude Alive’.
Random Trivia
National Lampoon’s Van Wilder was loosely based on the undergraduate life of comedian Bert Kreischer. While attending Florida State University he was somehow discovered by a little known magazine called Rolling Stone. They dubbed him the “#1 Party Animal In the Country” and featured an article in the magazine titled ‘The Undergraduate’.
Another National Lampoon film, Animal House has a couple of connections with Van Wilder. Van’s 7 years in college can be connected with a line in Animal House where John Belushi says, “Seven years of my life for nothing.” Van’s dad, Van Wilder Sr played by Tim Matheson, played Eric Stratton in Animal House.
Most of the filming was done at UCLA. While running to his last final, Van runs up the Janss Stairs, which were also featured in Old School.
The pool in the movie is the Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach, CA. The only reason I bring this up is because I swam there many times for high school. I like the feel special, let me have my moment.
While making Richard’s shake, Gwen pours in some “Colon Blow”, which was a fake commercial featured on Saturday Night Live. Even though the “blow” on SNL was cereal, it’s nice to see they still have the same effect.
Recipe – Hercules’ Creamy Eclaires
This recipe is inspired by Hercules’ contribution to the pastries delivered to the Delta Iota Kappa fraternity. If you enjoy hot warm creamy treats, this is for you.
*NOTE: NO ANIMAL FLUIDS ARE USED IN THIS RECIPE
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
2 1/2 cups cold milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons hot water
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet.
In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring until butter melts completely. Reduce heat to low, and add flour and salt. Stir vigorously until mixture leaves the sides of the pan and begins to form a stiff ball. Remove from heat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well to incorporate completely after each addition. With a spoon or a pastry bag fitted with a No. 10, or larger, tip, spoon or pipe dough onto cookie sheet in 1 1/2 x 4 inch strips.
Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce heat to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and bake 20 minutes more, until hollow sounding when lightly tapped on the bottom. Cool completely on a wire rack.
For the filling, combine pudding mix and milk in medium bowl according to package directions. In a separate bowl, beat the cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Beat in 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Fold whipped cream into pudding. Cut tops off of cooled pastry shells with a sharp knife. Fill shells with pudding mixture and replace tops.
For the icing, melt the chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in 1 cup confectioners’ sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in hot water, one tablespoon at a time, until icing is smooth and has reached desired consistency. Remove from heat, cool slightly, and drizzle over filled eclairs. Refrigerate until serving.
Animation: Rick Perry (actual audio)
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