Despite its outwardly hilarious appearance, National Lampoon’s: Van Wilder presents many important themes and issues pertaining to the college experience. The overarching theme of the film initially seems to stem from problems with financial aid because Van’s father has decided that after seven years of college, he no longer wants to pay his son’s tuition. However, as the story progresses, we find that Van’s problems go much deeper than money. Issues of financial aid are one of the many that are presented in this film, including leaving home, struggles with independence, hazing, and sexual anxieties.
In the opening of the movie, we are introduced to a character who is standing on top of a campus building, about to commit suicide. The pressure of school has finally gotten to him and besides, he “didn’t even want to go here in the first place!” Van has a very stern conversation with the “jumper,” who he affectionately calls “Timmy” (although that is not his real name), and Timmy ends up jumping off the building onto a trampoline held by the rescue squad. This issue of suicide also seems to stem from the pressures of being a first year student on a college campus. Considering the conversation between Van and Timmy: academics, social anxieties, and the rigors of living on campus made life seem not worth living for this character. Although this entire scene is presented in a comical sense, this issue is very real for many students on campus and it is important to recognize that.
There is also a strong Greek Life presence in the film which comes with its own set of themes and struggles for the college student. We find examples of hazing, drinking, and drug use. There is also many sexual anxieties that the students seem to suffer from. The desire to be in relationships, or avoid them, is an issue that almost every student goes through in their time at college. When you’re living on campus and spending time with people on a regular basis, opportunities for relationships abound. It’s important to recognize these issues and to seek out resources that can help overcome the anxieties that accompany sex and relationships.
Eventually, Van meets a girl named Gwen who writes for the campus newspaper. She’s been assigned to do a story on him because the Editor is interested in why Van has been in school for so long. After their meeting, a series of events takes place that leads Van to realize that he may actually be afraid to graduate and move on to the real world. I think this is a theme that many college students can relate to, including myself. When I first graduated from college, I thought I was ready to run out into the world and face it all on my own, but that was NOT the case at all. I may have completed a degree, but I hadn’t figured out who I was or where I was going so I went back to school. In Van’s case, he just stuck around for another three years until he realized it was time to move on. Taking the time to network and build personal relationships with professors and advisors can be a huge help with this issue. In the film, we see that Van knows everyone there is to know on campus, but it takes a collaboration of efforts to help a person graduate and networking cannot be your only skill.
Over all, I think National Lampoon’s: Van Wilder is a lighthearted and fantastic example of many issues that college students face and I recommend it to anyone who could use a good laugh, and some good advice for college life.
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