History Trivia / VanWilder

%%* StarMakingRole: For Ryan Reynolds and Kal Penn

* MoneyDearBoy: According to Creator/KalPenn, he only begrudgingly took the role of Taj, which he found demeaning and racist, when his agent told him she couldn't get him any more acting work unless he had more credits on his resume. He allegedly hung up on her when she first called him about the part and only relented when she called him back and explained the dilemma to him.

* StarMakingRole: For Ryan Reynolds and Kal Penn

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/KalPenn makes no secret that he hated playing Taj, finding the character humiliating and racist. He reportedly hung up on his agent the first time she called about the job and only relented when she said told him that he needed more credits on his resume in order to get more work.

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/KalPenn makes no secret that he hates his character in this film, finding him humiliating and racist. He only took the role because he needed more credits on his resume and, in fact, hung up on his agent the first time she called him about it.

* MoneyDearBoy: Kal Penn only took the role of Taj because he needed more credits on his resume. He makes no secret that he finds the character humiliating and racist, so much so that when his agent called him about the role, he hung up on her as soon as she said his name.

* CastingGag:
** Paul Gleason is once again [[Film/TheBreakfastClub a teacher with a problem with one particular student.]]
** Tim Matheson was once [[Film/AnimalHouse quite the fratboy himself]].
** As was Curtis Armstrong a.k.a. [[Film/RevengeOfTheNerds "Booger"]].
** Linden Ashby (Van Wilder Sr. in ''Freshman Year'') was every bit as snarky and cocky, and prone to LampshadeHanging in his role as [[Film/MortalKombat Johnny Cage]] as Reynolds' Van Vilder.

** Linden Ashby (Van Vilder Sr. in ''Freshman Year'') was every bit as snarky and cocky, and prone to LampshadeHanging in his role as [[Film/MortalKombat Johnny Cage]] as Reynolds' Van Vilder.

** Linden Ashby (Van Vilder Sr. in ''Freshman Yea'') was every bit as snarky and cocky, and prone to LampshadeHanging in his role as [[Film/MortalKombat Johnny Cage]] as Reynolds' Van Vilder.

** Linden Ashby (Van Vilder Sr. in ''Freshman Year" was every bit as snarky and cocky, and prone to LampshadeHanging in his role as [[Film/MortalKombat Johnny Cage]] as Reynolds' Van Vilder.

** Linden Ashby (Van Vilder Sr. in ''Freshman Year" was every bit as snarky and cocky, and prone to LampshadingHanging in his role as [[Film/MortalKombat Johnny Cage]] as Reynolds' Van Vilder.

* CastingGag: Paul Gleason is once again [[Film/TheBreakfastClub a teacher with a problem with one particular student.]]

*** As was Curtis Armstrong a.k.a. [[Film/RevengeOfTheNerds "Booger"]].

* CastingGag[=/=]ActorAllusion: Paul Gleason is once again [[Film/TheBreakfastClub a teacher with a problem with one particular student.]]

* HeyItsThatGuy: Van's the son of ''[[Film/MortalKombat Johnny Cage]]'' in ''Freshman Year''. The jocular laidback attitude suddenly makes a lot more sense.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Van's the son of ''[Film/MortalKombat Johnny Cage]]'' in ''Freshman Year''. The jocular laidback attitude suddenly makes a lot more sense.