Plot
After successfully seeking out the ultimate slider in the 2004 stoner comedy Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, the cannabis-craving twosome returns in this high-flying sequel that finds them labeled terrorists for attempting to sneak a marijuana-smoking implement on a flight to Amsterdam. Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) have just finished gorging themselves on savory White Castle hamburgers when they return to their apartment and hatch a plan for Harold to win the heart of his crush, Maria (Paula Garcés). Maria is going to Amsterdam, and if Harold can catch up with her overseas perhaps he can strike up a real love connection. After a close call with airport personnel and a chance encounter with Kumar's ex-girlfriend Vanessa (Danneel Harris) -- who hadn't yet told Kumar that she's engaged to be married -- the pot-loving pals finally board their flight for Amsterdam. Unfortunately for Harold, Kumar isn't able to endure the lengthy flight without an innocent puff or two from his smokeless bong. When the plane hits some turbulence and the bong is mistaken for a bomb, the flight is diverted to Guantanamo Bay and our spliff-smoking heroes are detained by overzealous Deputy Chief of Homeland Security Ron Fox (Rob Corddry). Now, if they can just escape from the world's most notorious prison compound, perhaps this hapless duo can succeed in convincing the authorities that they aren't enemy combatants, and that Kumar made the mistake of his life by letting Vanessa go. But before they can prove their innocence and get the girls, Harold and Kumar will have to outsmart the dreaded Ku Klux Klan, contend with a particularly precocious Cyclops baby, and successfully elude everyone's favorite debauched former child star -- Neil Patrick Harris. ~ Jason Buchanan, RoviReview
It would be hard for any sequel to live up to the precedent set by what turned out to be one of the best stoner comedies ever made, but Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is thankfully as funny as the original. It's just as raunchy and wild -- extolling the virtues of weed and female genitalia at every opportunity -- but where the first one largely concerned itself with the message of slackerdom, this one is surprisingly subversive, taking unexpected shots at the hypocritical political establishment and the ignorance that perpetuates both sides of the culture wars.Obviously, the movie paints its commentary in broad strokes, including but not limited to a scene in which Harold and Kumar smoke up with George W. Bush -- who insists that he can't legalize drugs because his dad would freak out. Rob Corddry sends up the scared-stupid, post-9/11 culture of fear particularly well as Secretary of Defense Ron Fox, who throws the film's heroes in Guantanamo Bay on charges of terrorism when Kumar's bong breaks open on a flight to Amsterdam. The script doesn't really call for him to do anything but act pompous and goofy, but he does so really well, especially in a scene where he misses what's going on because he's busy rocking out to "Danger Zone" on his Walkman.
There are almost too many other noteworthy appearances to mention, as our heroes' ADD adventures land them everywhere, from a "bottomless party" (as opposed to a "topless party") to the IKEA-decorated home of an incestuous redneck couple. Especially awesome is Neil Patrick Harris' triumphant return as that terrifying fantasy version of himself that we all sort of hope is real. He doesn't come away unscathed from an encounter with a Louisiana brothel's hot-tempered madam (played by Beverly D'Angelo), but you just can't expect any event in this movie to be less than over the top. (Also, remember to stay until the end of the credits.) ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi
Cast
- John Cho - Harold
- Kal Penn - Kumar
- Rob Corddry - Ron Fox
- Jack Conley - Deputy Frye
- Roger Bart - Dr. Beecher
Credit
Kevin Hardison - Art Director, Samuel J. Brown - Associate Producer, Richard Hicks - Casting, David Rubin - Casting, Nicole Brown - Co-producer, Kelli Konop - Co-producer, Jimmy Miller - Co-producer, Hayden Schlossberg - Co-producer, Jon Hurwitz - Co-producer, Michael Disco - Co-producer, Samuel J. Brown - Co-producer, Shawn-Holly Cookson - Costume Designer, Hayden Schlossberg - Director, Jon Hurwitz - Director, Jeff Freeman - Editor, Carsten H.W. Lorenz - Executive Producer, Richard Brener - Executive Producer, Joe Drake - Executive Producer, Toby Emmerich - Executive Producer, George S. Clinton - Composer (Music Score), Season Kent - Musical Direction/Supervision, Tony Fanning - Production Designer, Daryn Okada - Cinematographer, Greg Shapiro - Producer, Nathan Kahane - Producer, Richard Schexnayder - Sound/Sound Designer, Hayden Schlossberg - Screenwriter, Jon Hurwitz - Screenwriter, Bera Mills - Set Decorator| Harold Teen (1934 Film), Harold Teen (1928 Film) | |
| Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004 Film), Harold and Maude (1971 Film) |
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