First of all, I'd like to establish that the outrageously beautiful Nikki Ziering doesn't play a big part in this movie, though she's plastered on the DVD cover. But hey, what's going to sell the movie better? An outrageously beautiful woman like herself or two old ladies? Luckily, if you rent the unrated version, you will get the see her topless. I'm guessing they CGI'd a bikini top on her for the theatrical PG-13 version, because she seems to be topless in all but one scene in the movie.
All film aesthetics aside, the problem with "National Lampoon's Gold Diggers" is the fact that it's about two young guys who have to marry, wine, dine and copulate with two old ladies. That's just disturbing. Not funny, just disturbing. I found the scenes where the women each engage in sexual roleplaying with the young men more gag-inducing than funny.
Other than the distasteful premise, the movie is written and directed in an amaeteurish fashion. I'm guessing the National Lampoon's franchise has taken a huge nosedive, ever since "Christmas Vacation." We went from "Animal House" to this? I probably look at comedies in a more analytical fashion than most people, and many of the gags are badly executed. Surely, I've seen much worse, but the comedy still never rises above direct-to-video standards. And of course, there are some cheap gags involving things like old people farting (Wow, that's soooooo original). If you're an old person, I suggest you don't see the movie, because you'll probably be offended. Like most movies aimed at young people that have elderly characters in them, the elderly are portrayed in a purely stereotypical fashion.
The cast is not bad. Louise Lasser has certainly done much better films than this (she was great in Todd Solondz's "Happiness"), but I'm sure it's harder for her to get decent roles in her old age. When I found out Will Friedle was in the movie, I was really afraid, but his performance is actually pretty decent in this movie. I guess as he matured with age, his comic timing has improved. I couldn't stand seeing him on "Boy Meets World" and in that awful comedy "Trojan War" (made even more awful by his hammy performance). Luckily, he's gotten more subtle with his comedy, and he manages to deliver some funny lines in the movie. Chris Owen, on the other hand, is virtually comatose in his performance. He seems totally bored throughout the movie. Maybe he's just not cut out for starring roles. He was good in his supporting roles in movies like "American Pie" (as the infamous Sherminator). I don't remember the actor's name, but the black guy who played the preacher was pretty damn funny, and steals in the show in the few scenes he's in.
"National Lampoon's Gold Diggers" is not as bad as I thought it would be, but I wouldn't rate it as a must-see. And for the guys, you may want to keep your finger on the rewind button during the scenes with Nikki Ziering.
