‘Harold & Kumar’ sequel strong on laughs
April 27, 2008
Rating: 7/10
Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn, Rob Corddry and Neil Patrick Harris on a unicorn
The Plot
The sequel picks up where “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” left off: Harold and Kumar are mistaken for bomb-toting terrorists when Kumar tries to sneak a bong onto the plane. The baked duo are then sent to Guantanamo Bay, where they must escape or meet their demise.
The Good
Just like the previous “Harold & Kumar” film, the sequel uses off-the-wall humor to guide the two friends through the highs and lows of yet another an unforgettable journey. Their terrific chemistry is the same, as Kumar’s goofy sidekick role perfectly complements that of his straight-laced counterpart, Harold.
The supporting cast also helps make the film exciting. Corddry plays an extremely offensive and ignorant government official, seemingly brainwashed by racial, cultural and religious stereotypes. He uses overgeneralizations about people as a prosecuting technique to get information on the whereabouts of Harold and Kumar. His subjects just happen to be people of African, Korean and Indian descent. Not only did this prove to be funny, but it also shows the gross inaccuracy of stereotypes, and how ignorant people can be about other races and cultures.
Harris returns again with yet another odd version of himself. This time, he scarfs down a bag of mushrooms as he cruises down the road. His trippy visions of riding on a unicorn while speaking to a police officer keep the audience laughing as they witness his abilities to escape trouble and move on to even crazier adventures.
James Adomian does an impressive impersonation of George W. Bush as a laid-back, pot-smoking president.
The Bad
Unfortunately, there seems to be a new fad with full-frontal nudity. After last week’s “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” with the unforgettable “naked break-up scene” where Jason Segel bares all, it seems as though “Harold & Kumar” tries to one-up the scene with one of its own.
Harold and Kumar go to a friend’s “bottomless party” where they are greeted at the door by a beautiful young woman lacking drawers. As they enter the party, the house is filled with pantie-less women and a nude male that makes viewers forget about what Segel had to show.
The Lowdown
Contrary to popular belief, some sequels are better, or at least as good as their originals. With a movie revolving around crude humor, strong drug influences and brash stereotypes, it’s understandable how this film can be the latter. This is not a film for the faint of heart or for those with a weak stomach, but it’s a great time that will keep viewers laughing from opening to closing credits.