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The Red & Black | Tuesday, December 5, 2006 | 5
‘Rise of Taj’ a tired ethnic
twist on old ‘Vail Wilder'
By SONIA SHARAN
ssharan@randb.com
Following National
Lampoon’s “Van Wilder,”
“The Rise of Taj” seems to be
made just for the sake of a
sequel with an ethnic twist.
“The Rise of Taj” stars Kal
Penn, now a familiar face
from “Harold & Kumar Go to
White Castle” and
“Superman Returns.”
He plays the role created
in the original “Van Wilder,”
— Taj Mahal Badalandabad.
He is now at Camford
University in London, a name
formed with Oxford and
Cambridge combined. He is
getting his doctoral degree,
working as a graduate teach
ing assistant and the resi
dent adviser of “the barn,”
the house where the dorkiest
kids get sent to live.
The Fox and Hounds is
the fraternity Taj wanted to
join but was humiliatingly
rejected from due to “a typo
graphical error.” This error is
a prank the brothers play on
new students they deem
below them both economi
cally and socially. They send
Taj to “the barn” as a mean
joke.
The president of the Fox
and Hounds, Pipp Everett or
“Poop,” the Earl of Grey and
14 removed from the Queen,
is played by Daniel Percival.
He is Taj’s main rival and
dates Charlotte, played by
Lauren Cohan, Taj’s love
interest.
Along the lines of “Old
School,” Taj decides to get
his revenge by forming his
own fraternity, the Cocks and
Bulls, and competing with
the Fox and Hounds for the
Hastings Cup.
The Hastings Cup compe
tition consists of many
events: an academic bowl, a
badminton tournament and
a beer chugging contest,
along with others.
This movie combines cer
tain elements from a variety
of others in the same catego
ry. Parts of “Old School,”
“Revenge of the Nerds,”
“Dodgeball” and the
“American Pie” trilogy are
clearly visible.
The only unique aspect is
Taj’s Indian’s heritage. This
is offset by the fact that he is
the only non-white person in
the entire movie, including
the extras.
There are multiple jokes
centered on the inability of
anyone to pronounce his last
name. This is ironic because
Kal Penn in reality changed
his screen name because he
was afraid of the same thing.
This movie is set in
London, and English history
and customs are discussed.
It seems it would be more
appropriate for a British
audience, as fencing and
inaugural balls with Lords
and Earls are not common in
America.
The movie also starts
refining the socially rejected
students without any pream
ble. As soon as Taj steps foot
into the house, he begins his
THE RISE OF TAJ
Grade: B-
Verdict: A British version of the
comedy that is not as good as the
original, but a definite DVD rental.
work as their “Fairy
Godmother.”
Kal Penn plays his role
well — albeit with an accent
anyone familiar with him
would know is fake — but
he’s supposed to come
across as a dorky and socially
inept character.
Minus the accent, he does
not portray these two quali
ties well. He is well-dressed,
knows how to act in formal
social occasions and can
sweet talk anybody. The only
times he fumbles socially, feel
forced.
The only thing bequeathed
to this movie from the original
is a golf cart sent by Van
Wilder. Wilder’s only appear
ance in this movie is via pho
tograph.
Overall, the movie is funny
and entertaining, but it is not
a unique storyline, nor is it as
good as the original “Van
Wilder.”
Get Fuzzy®
by Darby Conley
HELLO CATS...
MUWT TOO &
Working ^
So Me K(MP OF
PEimoN
ACROSS
1 Sis or bro
4 Overhaul
8 Motto or slo
gan, e.g.
14 Rocky pinna
cle
15 Kuwaiti ruler
16 Wanderer
17 Fuss
18 Fireside yarn
19 Excursion
20 Aluminum
wrapping
22 Helen or
Bonnie
23 Not hip at all
24 Walking like a
duck
28 Capital of
South Korea
29 Damage to a
degree
30 Family car
31 Paraphrases
34 Signoret film,
“Madame ”
35 Have a meal
38 Portal
40 Statute
41 Political group
43 Baltimore
birds
45 Greek letters
47 Travel
stopover
48 Tabernacle
table
52 In an agitated
state
54 Furrow
55 Lift one’s
voice
56 Floating
bridge support
57 Tranquil
60 Series or skirt
lead-in
61 Tango number
62 Golfer Gary
63 Unwrap
64 Waikiki gar
land
65 Bandleader
Herb
66 Actress
Gertrude
67 Blunder
DOWN
1 State of affairs
2 First-aid topi
cal
3 Denver pro
The Daily Puzzle
Monday's Puzzle Solved
(C)2006 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
12/5/06
4
Changed
21
Two squared
gear?
22
Attained with
5
Online mes
difficulty
sages
24
In a state of
6
Pickle flavor
armed conflict
ing
25
Graven image
7
Mine’s yield
26
Shuttle grp.
8
Haughty
27
Chew on
9
Nags
29
Anchoring
10
Diamondback
alternative
or sidewinder
32
Court
11
Pierre’s pal
33
Actor Mineo
12
D.C. bigwig
35
Recedes, as
13
Work unit
the tide
12/5/06
36
Away from the
46 Black eye
56
Meerschaum
wind
49 Play a flute
or corncob
37
Carry
50 Confessor
57
Mineral spring
39
Longing
51 Impressionist
58
Building
42
Atwood novel
painter
extension
44
One-armed
53 Motionless
59
Quick blow
bandit
54 Hopeless case
60
Unruly crowd
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