Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj, is the latest National Lampoon’s take on the franchise. This time Kal Penn, a smash hit character from Van Wilder: Party Liaison, takes the spotlight as Taj Mahal Badalandabad. Taj has moved on from America, and now it’s time to revolutionise the British. Following in his mentor’s footsteps, Taj is initiated into the stiff upper lip tradition, following in his father’s legend.

He lands himself in “The Barn”, where all the misfits are sent to take residence. There he starts to make waves with his pep-boosting Van Wilder remedy for low self-esteem. He recruits characters living “The Barn” to form the Cock & Bulls team. His goal is to steal the Hastings Cup from the Fox & Hounds and win over Charlotte (Lauren Cohan), (take a deep breath) who happens to be girlfriend to Pip Everett (Daniel Percival), son of Rupert, Earl of Grey (ha.), Taj’s nemesis and a potential body double for Colin Moss.

Sadly, it’s another case of dress it up in another setting and flog it to the masses. The same gross out American Pie brand of humour applies, but it’s not even funny. In fact, most of the comic material doesn’t work, and Taj ends up looking pretty mediocre. Van Wilder: Party Liaison worked well because it had Ryan Reynolds, conventional frat pranks, parties, and an air of originality. Strip the franchise of those features and you’re bound to be playing the lame game. Sometimes the performances aren’t terrible and the story is bearable, but the overall feel is lack lustre and contrived.

Kal Penn was obviously made an offer he couldn’t refuse, and he’s no stranger to this type of theme (Harold & Kumar, Epic Movie). It is influenced by Dead Poets Society, Zorro with references to Back to the Future, Best in Show and a complete reworking of the first Van Wilder are evident throughout. It’s mediocre National Lampoon’s college drivel. The direction by Mort Nathan is off-target, run-of-the-mill and stale.Their target market is popcorn-flick-watching, horny teenage boys - and frankly they’re too busy playing Playstation to give a damn.

So if you’re a college drop out, into gross out humour, frat parties, superficial situational comedy and trashy jokes - you might like it, but even then, that’s might.

The bottom line: Forgettable.