“Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle” was a box-office disappointment, but, as most stoner comedies tend to be, a big success once it hit ancillary markets. A goofy, cameo-heavy diversion about a misadventurous quest to reach the title fast food restaurant, the film was raunchy, predictable, and charming in its quaintness, helped immeasurably by the chemistry between stars Kal Penn and John Cho. “Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” closely abides by the usual sequel model. Everything is on a bigger scale, the bawdiness is more rampant, and the story goals and comic targets are of a loftier persuasion. Even so, and not for a lack of trying, the outcome simply isn’t as satisfying this time around.
John Cho and Kal Penn as Harold and Kumar are still those lovable Jersey hopeless dopers, and in this followup to their White Castle caper, the two are off to Amsterdam instead, with designer bong in fist and thoughts of some quality cross-continental lust in the air. But after an unpleasant episode of racial profiling encountered at the airport, even worse bad news awaits them on the plane, when their smoking bong is mistaken for a bomb.
In fact, there isn’t a five minute stretch of this movie that is at all believable. ldquoHarold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” is an opportunistic comedy throwing its jokes at the audience like a drunken prom date trying too hard to look cool. The movie will show and say anything to yank laughs out of the audience in a process as dreadful as pulling teeth. The producers of this film must not think much of their target audience.
Star(s) to watch : John Cho (”Evolution”, “American Pie”, “American Beauty”) as Harold Lee, Kal Penn (”Superman Returns”, “Epic Movie”, “Van Wilder”) as Kumar Patel, & Neil Patrick Harris (”Starship Troopers”) as himself.
Genre : Comedy, Sequel.
Release date : April 25, 2008
Official website : http://www.haroldandkumar.com/
Trailer :
