I have actually never seen the first Van Wilder movie. Can you believe it? For some reason I avoided the first one, intentionally or not, I don't know. I have spoken to many who say the first is very funny, and one day I may be able to confirm or deny that for you. Instead, I have jumped headlong into the sequel. With Ryan Reynolds apparently not interested in reprising the role, it was decided to go forth with a second film sans title character. The star power has left with Reynolds and landed on the shoulders of Kal Penn, who portrays Taj Mahal Badalandabad. Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to do a sequel without the main character from the original (see: Son of the Mask, Dumb and Dumberer, etc).
I guess the main question is whether or not this is funny. The short answer is no. This is not a particularly funny movie. It is a movie that is unsure of what it wants to be. At times it is all about the T&A and other times it is about overcoming the odds and gaining self-respect. I guess it could be about both - it's been done before - but it comes across as awkward here. There is no real focus on story or characters. This could have been funny, and it has a few moments of hilarity (few and far between as they are), but it probably would have been better served as one of those direct-to-DVD films that National Lampoon puts out.
The story, such as it is, follows Taj across the pond, following in his father's footsteps at Camford University. Here he is the butt of a joke which sends him from the most prestigious frat on campus to the rundown barn, and its assemblage of rejects.
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