Van Wilder: Freshman Year

By A A on July 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Van gets wilder!
Laguna Beach and The Hills star Kristen Cavallari leaves reality to star alongside Jonathan Bennett in the college comedy Van Wilder: Freshman Year
– By Toni-Marie Ippolito

From scantily clad gals to sexually explicit scenes to full on make-out sessions (did we mention the girl-on-girl action?) – the latest offering of Van Wilder is nothing short of crazy college fun including all the essentials needed: beer, boobs and more beer.

In Van Wilder: Freshman Year, the third offering of National Lampoon’s famous franchise, a young Van (Jonathan Bennett) follows in his wealthy father’s footsteps by enrolling at the prestigious Coolidge College. Much to the easygoing slacker’s dismay, Coolidge is hardly the party school he envisioned.
Playing Van’s love interest Kaitlin is Laguna Beach star Kristen Cavallari who not only opens up about what it was like to star in her first leading role but reveals how her debut on MTV’s The Hills is ruffling some feathers now that she’s taken over from the show’s original star Lauren Conrad.

But as fun and nasty as these college movies get, Bennett (Mean Girls) who plays the title role, admits he was nervous stepping into Ryan Reynolds’ old shoes, what it was really like filming those rated “R” scenes, and how it maybe wasn’t a good idea to send his mother the “unrated” DVD edition of the movie.

Jonathan, you’ve been in a few comedies such as Mean Girls, Cheaper By The Dozen 2 and The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning. What was it about this role that attracted you so much?
Bennett: Van Wilder is such an iconic character for the genre of films that I love like the college comedies. So when the opportunity came up to play such a well-know figure, I jumped at the chance. I mean, I was nervous to play him but also excited. For an actor in their early twenties there’s no better role you can get.

Were you nervous because you were following in Ryan Reynolds’ footsteps?
Bennett: Yeah, you know, he’s got big shoes to fill (laughs)! He made Van Wilder such a character that I wanted to stay true to what he did but also add my spin to it. I did my own thing and played him a little more innocent because it is Van’s freshman year of College. But at the same time you have to keep some of the stuff Ryan did because that’s the Van Wilder.

Van Wilder is a little bit of a ladies’ man. Are there any similarities between you and your character?
Bennett: Tons! Yes, very much so, a lot of similarities (laughs).

Did you get any tips from Ryan Reynolds on playing this smooth character?
Bennett: Not really but I did see him randomly, I passed him on the street the day before we went to start filming and I walked up to him and introduced myself and told him I was going to take over and he said, “Congratulations just have a lot of fun with it.” And I apologized in advance for screwing up the character!

Kristen, since your just getting into the movie scene, what was it like to be a part of a comedy?
Cavallari: I was really excited but really nervous as well. This is my first leading role so that made me really nervous. But Jonathan and the entire cast and crew were really supportive and made me feel really comfortable on set. You know, I thought it was a really huge honor because I loved the first Van Wilder so to be able to be a part of that franchise, I thought, was really great.

What was it like working with each other?
Cavallari: Well, we knew each other a little bit before and then I auditioned three times with him and he made me feel so comfortable and he was so excited that I was coming in to read with him and that set the tone for me for the entire movie.
Bennett: We clicked as soon as we met and if you look at the extras (on the DVD) you’ll see that we could barely get through a scene without laughing.
Cavallari: He made me laugh so hard!
Bennett: There’s a whole montage of Kristen just punching me and calling me an ass because I kept making faces at her (laughs). We had a great time. And she’s so good to work with. I didn’t know what to expect working with a girl who came from reality TV but once Kristen got there and started doing her thing, it was perfect.

It’s great that you had that chemistry right off the bat because sometimes you don’t know if it’s going to work.
Bennett: Oh yeah, and I’ve worked with people that I didn’t click with and it just makes thing that much harder and grueling. But Kristen and I didn’t have to try.

Jonathan, the movie has some major “R” rated scenes in it, were you nervous doing these?
Bennett: Have you seen the unrated version? Because that one’s a lot worse! I think I sent the unrated one home to my mom. Was that a bad idea?

Um, maybe, yeah I think so because it’s got a bit of everything—from girl-on-girl action to sexual devices. How do you get through some of those scenes?
Bennett: It’s sooo ridiculous and so awkward that you just have to laugh through all of them. It’s like, in one scene, I’m standing at the podium giving [a high school graduation] speech while over 200 people are watching me get a b@#* job. I mean, you have to laugh at it or you’re going to be embarrassed!

Kristen, you’re of course famous for being on Laguna Beach and now The Hills, so what made you go back to reality when you were beginning a TV and movie career?
Cavallari: Well, they’ve [MTV] been asking me to do The Hills for years and I thought if I did it, it would just be reliving Laguna Beach because they would have pinned Lauren [Conrad] and I against each other and so there was no point to it. So I thought, with Lauren leaving and with Van Wilder: Freshman Year coming out and a few other things I have going on, I just felt it was a good way for reach my fans because they haven’t seen anything I’ve done in four years. So I thought that would be a great way to get them excited about me again.

So how has being back on The Hills made you feel?
Cavallari: I’ve never wanted to act so badly in my life after being on The Hills! I mean I like doing The Hills. I love the crew because I worked with them on Laguna Beach but I have to tell you, there’s no challenge in it for me and I really can’t wait to get a script in my hands and audition again and work with actors!

I guess it’s not so challenging when one plays her/himself?
Cavallari: No, it’s not, and I sort of feel like I’m taking a step back. But I also think that some great things are going to come out of it.

The hype about your debut has been crazy. At the MMVA’s in Toronto when asked about what drama would be happing, Brody Jenner had only two words to say, “Kristen Cavallari!” What is it that you’re going to bring that’s sooo crazy?
Cavallari: [Laughs] Um, I don’t know! I don’t really have anything planned. I don’t have anything up my sleeve.

Jonathan, you’ve worked with Kristen, is she crazy outgoing or what?
Bennett: Yeah watch out! That’s all I have to say. Whomever she’s working with, “Watch out!” [laughs] She always comes to set with some kind of trick up her sleeve!

Ahhh… so maybe that’s it! Maybe you’ve got some secret trick for The Hills?
Cavallari: Well I don’t have any secrets to give away! We’ve only been shooting for about two weeks so far. Right now, it’s hard to say where the show’s going but I can tell you that I think that me coming in has kind of been difficult on a few people and it’s taking a bit of adjusting on some people’s parts.

Jonathan, comedy seems to really be your thing. Do you plan on doing more?
Bennett: Yes, it’s definitely my thing. I just like making people laugh and being on set and just having so much fun. You get to show up everyday and just make people laugh. It’s the best job in the world.

Enter For The Chance To WIN Van Wilder: Freshman Year On DVD!

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