History Film / VanWilder

** Van's repeated use of "Write that down" after giving someone else advice, Which he actually [[NotSoDifferent got from his dad]].

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

** Tim Matheson, who plays Van's father in the first film, [[Film/AnimalHouse was quite the party animal himself in his day]] if we're not mistaken.

** 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's Van Wilder.

* ActorAllusion: Tim Matheson, who plays Van's father in the first film, [[Film/AnimalHouse was quite the party animal himself in his day]] if we're not mistaken.

* 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's Van Wilder.

* HateSink: Richard Bagg is an arrogant med student caring only about his own dreams and status as President of student government, seeing that as a license to talk down to and walk all over other students, even physically toying with his pledges. He is also Gwen's condescending boyfriend, who sees her as his "bitch" and when he sees Van and Gwen getting close, gets into a rivalry with Van. When Gwen rejects his marriage proposal, he frames Van for serving alcohol to kids to get him arrested and expelled and later cheats on Gwen. This serves to make the humiliation and revenge pranks he's subjected to a joy to watch.

%%* BlackBestFriend: Hutch.

** 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.

* BrilliantButLazy: Van, who merely does the minimum required to remain a student, which is the reason for the conflict with Professor [=McDougal=]. In a subversion, Van instead devotes his energies to helping the Student Body in anyway he can.

* FunnyForeigner: Played with in ''Freshman Year''. Yu Dum Fook [[spoiler:initially appears to be a straight example until TheReveal that he's actually Van's father's chief of security, planted at Coolidge to keep an eye on Van, and not actually a Foreigner.]]

* HateSink: Richard Bagg is an arrogant med student caring only about his own dreams and status as President of student government, seeing that as a license to talk down to and walk all over other students, even physically toying with his pledges. He is also Gwen's condescending boyfriend, who sees her as his "bitch" and when he sees Van and Gwen getting close, gets into a rivalry with Van. When Gwen, rejects his marriage proposal, he frames Van for serving alcohol to kids to get him arrested and expelled and later cheats on Gwen. This serves to make the humiliation and revenge pranks he's subjected to a joy to watch.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: The title character is very loosely based on comedian Bert Kreischer, whose life story was optioned by Creator/OliverStone when ''Rolling Stone'' published an article about his life as a sixth-year undegraduate party animal at Florida State University. After the rights expired, the screenwriters turned their unused script into ''Van Wilder.''

* BigBad: Richard Bagg in the first film.
** Pip Everett in the sequel.

* BigManOnCampus: A rare case where he graduated to the position after being a HighSchoolHustler... and couldn't figure out what to do next.
* BlackBestFriend: Hutch.
* BoyMeetsGirl: A version of this is used with Van and Gwen.
** And Van and Kaitlin in ''Freshman Year''

* {{Catchphrase}}: Van's repeated use of "Write that down." after giving someone else advice.
** Which he actually [[NotSoDifferent got from his dad]].

* TheCharmer: Van to pretty much everyone.

** He does the same thing with Kaitlin in ''Freshman Year''.
* DrenchCelebration: in ''Van Wilder: Freshman Year'': After the football team finally win a game, they grab the Gatorade coolers, pass the coach and dump them on the scantily clad cheerleaders.

* FunWithAcronyms: Richard's Greek fraternity, '''D'''elta '''I'''ota '''K'''appa.
-->'''Van:''' Richard you rascal, you never told me you were a DIK! ''(under his breath)'' Not that you had to...

*** There's also the '''L'''ambda '''O'''mega '''O'''megas, the Geek fraternity.
** Van has his initials (V.W.) emblazoned on his golf cart.
* FunnyForeigner: Taj Mahal Badalandabad
** Played straight with Yu Dum Fook in ''Freshman Year'', [[spoiler:and then subverted with TheReveal that he's actually Van's father's chief of security, planted at Coolidge to keep an eye on Van & not actually a Foreigner.]]

* HumiliationConga: The LaxativePrank Richard experiences.
* IAteWhat: The "dog pastries".
* IKEAErotica: Richard having sex with Gwen.
* {{Jerkass}}: Richard.
* KickTheDog: Richard gives alcohol to children to make Van look bad.

* MrFanservice: It's ''Ryan Reynolds''.
* MsFanservice: Kristin Cavallari in ''Freshman Year''. Also, Charlotte in "The Rise of Taj". Don't forget the Topless Tutors in the first movie.
* NoFourthWall: Van Wilder narrates his story and even turns to stare at the camera during certain humorous instances. Not unlike [[Comicbook/{{Deadpool}} another character Ryan Reynolds would go on to represent on the silver screen...]]

---> '''Van Wilder''': Trust Me. ''Van looks into the camera.'' There'll be more.

* PunnyName: "Suk Mee".
* SexComedy
* SmugSnake: Richard. Also, Pip in the sequel.

* TelevisionGeography: The climax is funny for people familiar with the campus of UCLA: Van Wilder's sprint from his dorm (actually Royce Hall, which contains lecture halls, classrooms, and a theater) to his final exam (which happens to be located in the building next door) seems to have him teleporting all over campus and often running in the opposite direction of where he ends up.
* UnusualEuphemism: Taj is just ''full'' of these.

After a series of comedic incidents, his father finds out that Van has been wasting his life at college and cuts him off from the college fund. Now Van has only a few months left to graduate and win the heart of a journalism major Gwen Pearson (Tara Reid). However, she's dating an arrogant medical student who is trying to get Van expelled. HilarityEnsues.

* ActorAllusion: Tim Matheson, who plays Van's father, [[Film/AnimalHouse was quite the party animal himself in his day]] if we're not mistaken.

The 2002 film is another entry in the Franchise/NationalLampoon movies. While it had a low budget and negative critical reviews, Creator/RyanReynolds managed to pull off the silly gags with flying colors, and it did pretty well at the box office. Unfortunately, it spawned an even less successful spin-off sequel ''Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj'' and a [[DirectToVideo direct-to-DVD]] {{prequel}} ''Van Wilder: Freshman Year''.

The 2002 film is another entry in the NationalLampoon movies. While it had a low budget and negative critical reviews, Creator/RyanReynolds managed to pull off the silly gags with flying colors, and it did pretty well at the box office. Unfortunately, it spawned an even less successful spin-off sequel ''Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj'' and a [[DirectToVideo direct-to-DVD]] {{prequel}} ''Van Wilder: Freshman Year''.

The charming Van Wilder (RyanReynolds) has attended Coolidge College for seven years and knows all the ins and outs of student life at that college. He's upbeat, throws the wildest parties and is pretty much just an all-around awesome guy loved by all. Van is just simply...[[TheAce the man]].

The 2002 film is another entry in the NationalLampoon movies. While it had a low budget and negative critical reviews, RyanReynolds managed to pull off the silly gags with flying colors, and it did pretty well at the box office. Unfortunately, it spawned an even less successful spin-off sequel ''Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj'' and a [[DirectToVideo direct-to-DVD]] {{prequel}} ''Van Wilder: Freshman Year''.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: The film is very loosely based on comedian Bert Kreischer, whose life story was optioned by Creator/OliverStone when ''Rolling Stone'' published an article about his life as a sixth-year undegraduate party animal at Florida State University. After the rights expired, the screenwriters turned their unused script into ''Van Wilder.''

The 2002 film is another entry in the NationalLampoon movies. While it had a low budget and small box office returns, RyanReynolds managed to pull off the silly gags with flying colors. Unfortunately, it spawned an even less successful spin-off sequel ''Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj'' and a [[DirectToVideo direct-to-DVD]] {{prequel}} ''Van Wilder: Freshman Year''.

[[quoteright:340:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vanwilder2002_1_9805.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:340:Don't graduate...celebrate.]]

* AManIsNotAVirgin: Most of the reason why Taj came to the United States and college in general.

* NoFourthWall: Van Wilder narrates his story and even turns to stare at the camera during certain humorous instances. Not unlike [[Comicbook/{{Deadpool}} another character Ryan Reynolds is hoping to represent on the silver screen...]]

* BigManOnCampus

* BlackBestFriend