Release Date: April 25, 2008 Studio: New Line Cinema MPAA Rating: R Genre: Comedy Director: Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz Writers: Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz Cast: John Cho, Kal Penn Rob Corddry, Roger Bart and Neil Patrick Harris Synopsis: HAROLD AND KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY marks the triumphant return of these two hilarious, slacker anti-heroes. The movie stars John Cho (Star Trek, American Pie) as Harold and Kal Penn (The Namesake, House, Van Wilder) as Kumar, two stoners who can’t seem to get a break. Their last adventure found them traveling across country to find a White Castle hamburger in order to satisfy a weed-induced case of “the munchies.”
This time, the boys get themselves in trouble trying to sneak a bong onboard a flight to Amsterdam. Now, being suspected of terrorism, they are forced to run from the law and try to find a way to prove their innocence. What follows is an irreverent and epic journey of deep thoughts, deeper inhaling and a wild trip around the world that is as “un-PC” as it gets. The Review: A Joint Review Rolled Up From Two Buds
Mikey: When they went on a quest for White Castle it seemed like a pretty thin idea for a movie and one that would only fly if you were flying high yourself. Shockingly I've never watched H&R 1 high, tipsy, or even on a copious amount cough medicine and yet I still find it pretty damn funny.
When word came they were going for a sequel it was surprising but they already had a set up built into the end of the first one....and the promise of them headed off for the weed capitol of the world was open to a ton of possibilities. Then news hit that the boys trip to THC heaven would have to take a slight detour first...and it seemed they had some idea to add something the first one didn't...a plot.
Deez: Have I ever watched H&K 1 high?... I plead the 5th! (Wait.. someone get me a copy of the Bill of Rights!.. It's 5, right?)
Yes, the first one had about as much plot as an episode of the Real World- Little Rock, but it didn't matter! The first movie was funny as hell (High or not... wait! I didn't just say that!)! Kel Penn and John Cho just have the comic chemistry that would make them funny and worth watching even if it was just them sitting in the back seat of a cab for hours (see DVD review - this weekend!). H& K 1 was a true stoner comedy classic! Now in 2, (and I can't believe as a critic I'm saying this.. wait... I suck as a critic, so it actually makes sense!) the addition of the plot actually detracts a little from the overall enjoyment of this movie!
Mikey: Have to agree with Deez on that one; having a plot seemed to slow down their roll a bit. The first was so random and bizarre that anything could happen at any point because they needed it to drive the quest for white castle forward. The second has a plot and at times has to shoe horn in a gag to keep up the giggle ratio.
It seemed as if they set out to also add an ongoing element of social commentary on societies racial issues. Ron Fox (Rob Corddry) being the voice of that commentary as he plows through the movie as a complete dip dong who has ZERO shame in calling out or trying to use every stereotype he can get his hands on to his advantage. It’s funny as hell but after while it gets a bit tired.
Deez: That was the one thing that started to get irritating in the movie! Corddry is usually a funny m-f'er, but here, His shtick just drags on and get to the point of preposterousness (jumping out of the plane... really???) But, thankfully, Cho and Penn are on their game in this one- and really keep pulling the flick back on track every time they blow onto the screen! It also helps to have further comedy support from returning sidekicks David Krumholdz and Eddie Kaye Thomas who are hilarious in the limited screen time they have. And who wouldn't love the triumphant return of the man, the myth, the legend... NEIL PATRICK HARRIS!!!
Mikey: NPH….the man is legend…wait for it…ary. Who’d have thought Doogie would turn out to be so damn funny? He’s great on How I met your mother, and just a complete mad man in Harold and Kumar. One can only hope the rumor of them making a NPH movie based on his false persona in H&R is real. THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN!!
Most sequels have this idea that hey need to retread the same shit to make it work, and this is certainly no exception. However they do it in such a way that it’s not totally brainless and obvious. There’s a quest, but this time its to get to Texas . There’s weed…ok that one is obvious. David Krumholdz and Eddie Kaye Thomas pop up when needed. A new friend is introduced to help things along. A visit to some whacked out rednecks. Basically they kept all the same beats but changed the tempo. Nice work for a stoner comedy I must admit.
Deez: Yeah... even with the complaints about Courdry, this movie delivers exactly what you'd want from our "buds" Harold & Kumar! It may not be as over-all funny as the first, but it certainly does not dissapoint!
I give this one 3.5 "LEAVES"!
Mikey: With the additional cast members and a really funny new back story to the pre-white castle Harold and Kumar this thing is as dope as the original just not as loopy. One fully expects a nice DVD out of this one and plenty of high times ahoy. I’m giving it a 3.5 on the scale as well.
