Being a fan of White Castle and the talents of John Cho and Kal Penn, this movie was a sure fire hit. Even in this simplistic comedy, this frames the story as the Harold and Kumar evolve-- after the high subsides. It is a total stoner movie. Harold is not having a particularly stellar day. Cho and Penn overcome much of the movie's inconsistencies.
I mean from beginning to end this movie is just so unbelievably funny, I think it's because it doesn't take itself seriously and the actors just have so much fun with it. But what a hilarious movie I don't get it. But he had me rolling as the nasty trailer trash type of dude. This movie deserve more praise as it is in my opinion one the best comedies made ever. And it is amazing to see how many scenes the crammed into 90 minutes. However, it's no worse in that regard than South Park or other hit movies involving college-age adults a la Animal House.
Back at their apartment complex, we meet Maria a gorgeous Paula Garces , the object of Harold's affection. I haven't laughed so much at a movie since. He is totally out there. This is a dream sequence, and uh it's funnier that it sounds. I couldn't believe how much I laughed out loud during this film, I think I have to join in with the fans on this movie. I personally, being Indian found much humor in this movie, along with something else, a little pride in the fact that this movie did not portray the lead Indian guy to be just another book worm with a heavy accent. Kumar still has a thing for Vanessa, the feds are in hot pursuit, and the legal weed of Amsterdam seems a long way away.
Also it showed the other side to these two minorities which is usually purposely ignored. I really enjoyed this film. But this movie does not fall in the same category as Half Baked or How High; this is not another typical stoner film. But on Bravo a few months ago they had this movie on it's top 100 funniest films of all time and also they're not releasing the new sequel in a month, so I figured what do I have to loose? It is no exaggeration or flattery when I say this movie is the funniest movie I have ever seen. Well, one could, and would be missing a very funny movie. If stoner comedy has a place in the satire canon, this is one of the best. Also, the film was so predictable, which added to its blandness.
What was great about this movie was that they tackled modern day stereotypes and showed the stupidity in exploiting them. More serious is the multicultural subtext about stereotyping Asians are nerdy number crunchers and Indians are overachieving medical doctors, for instance overturned by, for instance, morphing a seemingly 'Joy Luck' club gathering into a raunchy party or exposing a gang of mouthy skinheads as 'girliemen. And that's exactly what happens to Harold and his roommate, Kumar, when they set out to get the best stoner fix money can buy: White Castle hamburgers. Neil Patrick Harris as himself is awesome. John Cho is a talented reactive actor, some of his expression are priceless. The script, the actors, the fantasy with the weed and Kumar was just beyond hilarious.
Ordered to fellate a guard, they manage to escape, make their way to Florida, and head for Texas to find Kumar's ex-girlfriend's fiancé, the well-connected Colton, and get him to intercede with Washington on their behalf. Definitely worth a second, a third, and fourth watch, and then some. Ordered to fellate a guard, they manage to escape, make their way to Florida, and head for Texas to find Kumar's ex-girlfriend's fiancé, the well-connected Colton, and get him to intercede with Washington on their behalf. Both guys are at a crossroads, about to make major decisions that will affect the course of their lives. The guys were incredibly funny together.
Okay, you did have the classic Stoner Movies of the 80s and 90s, including Bill and Teds which, while they are clearly stoners, doesn't have them smoking drugs , and these days you have copious amounts of marijuana appearing on our screens, but the whole concept of a couple of drug users going on a trek to get some food can be a little dull — and this is basically what this movie is about: two stoners go on a quest to get some food. He persuades Harold to join him for a night with the finest marijuana he could obtain, only to get the massive munchies for some White Castle burgers. It does dabble with some stereotypes but the times the stereotpyes are broken especially from Kumar who brings a light fun and jovial spirit to the film and has some of the funniest moments. John Cho and Kal Penn have excellent screen presence and their ability to play off of one another is what gave them staying power through all three pie moves. It's constant laughter and brought tears to my eyes that's how hard I was laughing. The editing ruins a perfectly cast cameo which gets wasted it just ends up making no sense because of obvious excessive cuts. I thought the writing had real wit, not to mention the hidden references and one liners that any film buff will appreciate.
Listen, don't go in expecting an academy award winning film, but just go in ready to laugh. It does not base its humor solely the idea of getting high, this movie is able to find humor in more then just that. But this movie does not fall in the same category as Half Baked or How High; this is not another typical stoner film. But overall I found it very very funny, and I did not leave feeling stupid like I did after the funny yet inherently stupid Dodgeball, but left thinking about these social and racial issues. What a great combination, a Korean guy and an Indian guy, both stereotypically known to be intellectually advanced.
Kenn Pal and John Cho have a great chemistry for the buddy relationship of Harold and Kumar, not since Bill and Ted has been such a great stoner move. Just go ahead and give the movie a chance, so I rented it yesterday and watched it today, I hate to say it, I couldn't stop laughing. You really need to see it to understand it and what it's really about. Take the best comedic part of every movie you have ever seen and just combine them all together to make this one hilarious film. It probably is the funniest movie in years. I definitely recommend to go out and get you some White castle gets few friends together and light up and watch this flick. Still funny as hell though even if you miss the hidden almost subliminal message within the film.