National Lampoon's Van Wilder: Freshman Year
Encyclopedia
National Lampoon's Van Wilder: Freshman Year is the third film in the Van Wilder series, following National Lampoon's Van Wilder
and National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
. Freshman Year is a prequel
to the first film. It was released straight-to-DVD in 2009. The film was directed by Harvey Glazer and stars Jonathan Bennett
, Kristin Cavallari
, Jerry Shea, and Steve Talley
.
) has graduated from high school. He is supposed to go on a trip to Amsterdam
with his dad (Linden Ashby
), but his dad is busy with work, so Van ends up going alone. Van ends up going to Coolidge, following family tradition. His family has their name on a building there, Wilder Hall. However, when he gets there, Coolidge is no longer the fun loving school of his dad's time, but a military-based institution run by Dean Reardon (Kurt Fuller
).
Reardon, a military man who hates the senior Wilder, wants to make the younger Wilder's life miserable. He can not force him out because his dad is rich and has ties to the school, so he tries to make Van's life a living hell. Van turns a one bedroom dorm into a two bedroom (by breaking down a wall). His roommate is Farley (Nestor Aaron Absera), a pothead from Jamaica. The boys decide to throw a party on campus, which isn't allowed, along with kissing, drugs, booze, sex, or anything else that's 'fun'. The only person to show up to the party is Yu Dum Fok (Jerry Shea). The boys try to find the girls, but they just find some religious, prudish girls led by Eve (Meredith Giangrande).
After she throws blood on them, Van pulls a prank on them during church. Reardon knows Van is behind the prank, so he commands his ROTC students, Dirk (Steve Talley
) and his closeted sidekick Corporal Benedict (Nick Nicotera), on Van, trying to make him crack. Van falls for Dirk's girlfriend, Kaitlin (Kristin Cavallari
), causing Dirk to get even more upset. Kaitlin thinks, lives, and breathes the military, and believes in chastity before marriage. Of course, Van has to shake things up. After playing a military game with Reardon, which results with Reardon stepping down as dean and tasered, Van and Kaitlin are together, and Van decides to finish up at college, while leaving Dirk and Benedict tied to each other in their underwear.
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
National Lampoon's Van Wilder is a 2002 comedy film directed by Walt Becker that stars Ryan Reynolds as the main character. The film also stars Kal Penn, Tara Reid, and Daniel Cosgrove. It features Sophia Bush's acting debut...
and National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj is a 2006 sequel to the 2002 comedy National Lampoon's Van Wilder starring Kal Penn. Despite the film's title, lead actor Ryan Reynolds does not return in his role as Van Wilder.- Plot :...
. Freshman Year is a prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
to the first film. It was released straight-to-DVD in 2009. The film was directed by Harvey Glazer and stars Jonathan Bennett
Jonathan Bennett (actor)
Jonathan D. Bennett is an American actor best known for playing Aaron Samuels in the 2004 film Mean Girls, the television series Veronica Mars, and All My Children.-Early life:...
, Kristin Cavallari
Kristin Cavallari
Kristin Elizabeth Cavallari is an American television personality and actress. She is best known for her starring roles on the former MTV reality television programs Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and its spin-off, The Hills.-Early life:Cavallari was born in Denver, Colorado, the second of...
, Jerry Shea, and Steve Talley
Steve Talley
Steve Talley is an American actor who played Dwight Stifler in later films of the American Pie film series.-Career:...
.
Plot
Van Wilder (Jonathan BennettJonathan Bennett (actor)
Jonathan D. Bennett is an American actor best known for playing Aaron Samuels in the 2004 film Mean Girls, the television series Veronica Mars, and All My Children.-Early life:...
) has graduated from high school. He is supposed to go on a trip to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
with his dad (Linden Ashby
Linden Ashby
Clarence Linden Garnett Ashby III , best known as Linden Ashby, is an American actor and martial artist.-Early life:...
), but his dad is busy with work, so Van ends up going alone. Van ends up going to Coolidge, following family tradition. His family has their name on a building there, Wilder Hall. However, when he gets there, Coolidge is no longer the fun loving school of his dad's time, but a military-based institution run by Dean Reardon (Kurt Fuller
Kurt Fuller
Kurt Fuller is an American character actor. He has appeared in a number of television, film, and stage projects. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Stockton, California in 1971.-Career:...
).
Reardon, a military man who hates the senior Wilder, wants to make the younger Wilder's life miserable. He can not force him out because his dad is rich and has ties to the school, so he tries to make Van's life a living hell. Van turns a one bedroom dorm into a two bedroom (by breaking down a wall). His roommate is Farley (Nestor Aaron Absera), a pothead from Jamaica. The boys decide to throw a party on campus, which isn't allowed, along with kissing, drugs, booze, sex, or anything else that's 'fun'. The only person to show up to the party is Yu Dum Fok (Jerry Shea). The boys try to find the girls, but they just find some religious, prudish girls led by Eve (Meredith Giangrande).
After she throws blood on them, Van pulls a prank on them during church. Reardon knows Van is behind the prank, so he commands his ROTC students, Dirk (Steve Talley
Steve Talley
Steve Talley is an American actor who played Dwight Stifler in later films of the American Pie film series.-Career:...
) and his closeted sidekick Corporal Benedict (Nick Nicotera), on Van, trying to make him crack. Van falls for Dirk's girlfriend, Kaitlin (Kristin Cavallari
Kristin Cavallari
Kristin Elizabeth Cavallari is an American television personality and actress. She is best known for her starring roles on the former MTV reality television programs Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and its spin-off, The Hills.-Early life:Cavallari was born in Denver, Colorado, the second of...
), causing Dirk to get even more upset. Kaitlin thinks, lives, and breathes the military, and believes in chastity before marriage. Of course, Van has to shake things up. After playing a military game with Reardon, which results with Reardon stepping down as dean and tasered, Van and Kaitlin are together, and Van decides to finish up at college, while leaving Dirk and Benedict tied to each other in their underwear.