Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (released in some countries as Harold & Kumar Get the Munchies) is a 2004 stoner comedy film. The plot revolves around the two pot-smoking title characters, who decide to go to the fast food restaurant White Castle after smoking marijuana, but when they cannot find the restaurant, they have a series of comical misadventures.
The film was written by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, and directed by Danny Leiner. Starring John Cho (Harold) and Kal Penn (Kumar), it also features appearances by Fred Willard, Paula Garcés, Anthony Anderson, Dan Bochart, Ethan Embry, Jamie Kennedy, Bobby Lee, Christopher Meloni, Ryan Reynolds, Shaun Majumder, David Krumholtz, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Malin Akerman and Neil Patrick Harris (in a parody of himself).
Plot
The movie begins with entry level investment banker Harold Lee being taken advantage of by two coworkers, Billy Carver (Ethan Embry) and J.D. (Robert Tinkler), who pour extra work on him so they can take off for a long weekend. In the meantime Kumar Patel, Harold's roommate, is interviewing for medical school admission, although he later admits he has only attends interviews to placate his father, who supports him financially. He is summarily rejected.
Harold is an insecure, shy young man, constantly harassed by a group of "extreme sports jerks" and unable to express his feelings for his beautiful neighbor, Maria (Paula Garcés). Later that evening, after smoking marijuana, Harold and Kumar get the munchies and happen to see a TV ad for White Castle, and they decide to get some hamburgers. They discover that the White Castle they had planned to visit in New Brunswick has been replaced by the inferior "Burger Shack", but are told by a Burger Shack employee that there is a 24 hour White Castle in Cherry Hill.
During the trip, Kumar begins to "come down" and suggests they stop off at Princeton University and buy some more weed. While they are smoking a joint on a staircase, a campus security guard (Albert Howell) catches them and gives chase. In the process, they lose the bag of weed Kumar has procured. Fortunately for them, they escape before security can catch them and instead cause the dealer Bradley (Dov Tiefenbach) to be arrested.
Resuming their journey, Kumar decides to pull over so he can urinate. He leaves the door open, allowing a raccoon to sneak in. It bites Harold, who believes he has caught rabies and convinces Kumar to take him to the nearest hospital where Kumar's father (Errol Sitahal) and brother Saikat (Shaun Majumder) work. Kumar steals ID badges from his father and brother, but is mistaken for his brother and performs surgery on a patient, who tells them how to reach White Castle.
Back on the road, Kumar spots Maria at a movie theater. He decides to get Maria's attention so Harold can talk to her, but Harold ducks down and pushes the gas pedal, causing the car to spin out of control. The pair land in a ditch, but are rescued by a God-loving, boil-faced tow-truck driver nicknamed "Freakshow" (Christopher Meloni). He takes them back to his house to repair their car and informs them they can make themselves at home and have sex with his wife (Malin Akerman). They have a discussion in which Harold and Kumar agree to have sex with her at the same time. Although reluctant at first, Harold begins fondling her breasts when Freakshow comes in. Even though he initially forgets his earlier offer, he strips and suggests a foursome. That causes the duo to flee to their car and drive away.
Back on the road, a lost Harold and Kumar pick up a strung out Neil Patrick Harris, who is high on ecstasy[1] and has been hitchhiking after being thrown from a car after he sniffs cocaine off a woman's ass . They head into a gas station convenience store where, after another confrontation with the "extreme sports jerks", the store's cashier (Rick Sood) gives them directions. As they leave the store, they see Harris driving away in Harold's car. Harold, out of frustration, ends up inadvertently hitting a police officer and is thrown in prison.
While in jail Harold sees Bradley the "business hippie"; Bradley's bag of weed has been confiscated and his mother takes him home. He then meets an African-American professor Tarik (Gary Anthony Williams), who claims he was busted for being black. After making a fake 911 call, Kumar breaks Harold out of the jail but catches a whiff of weed and finds Bradley's confiscated bag. Kumar takes it before fleeing with Harold into the nearby woods.
Now lost in the woods, Harold and Kumar encounter an escaped cheetah and ride it. Unfortunately, Harold is hit by a branch and knocked unconscious. He awakens to find that his laptop has been damaged. Additionally, the cheetah took them in the wrong direction and they are still lost.
After finding their way out of the woods, they find a hot dog joint and see their neighbors Goldstein and Rosenberg eating hot dogs and looking happy. Harold decides that he craves that feeling of satisfaction that comes from getting what you want. After yet another encounter with the "extreme sports jerks", Harold and Kumar steal the jerks' orange Ford Bronco. A police officer spots the truck and begins pursuing them. They temporarily elude the officer by driving off-road through the woods but are trapped at the edge of a cliff.
Harold is now ready to give up on the adventure, but Kumar makes a passionate speech about their journey and happens to spot the White Castle they have been searching for right below them. They take a hang glider off the truck and glide off the cliff to reach their destination. Having finally arrived at the White Castle, they place their orders only to discover that neither of them has any money. To their rescue comes Neil Patrick Harris, who apologizes for what he did, pays for their meal and returns Harold's car.
After eating, Kumar has an epiphany and realizes that he has always wanted to be a doctor, but was too afraid of being one of those "nerdy Indian guys turned doctor." Harold meets his co-workers, who have obviously been partying, and finally tells them off. Arriving back at their apartment, they encounter Maria in the hallway, waiting for the elevator. Kumar makes Harold ride back downstairs with her. In the elevator, after an awkward start, Harold professes his love for Maria and the two kiss. Unfortunately, she is leaving for a trip to Amsterdam. Kumar then convinces Harold to go with him on the next plane to Amsterdam, reminding him: "You do realize what's legal in Amsterdam, don't ya?" (referring to the fact that marijuana use has been legalized in the Netherlands).
Cast and characters
Release
Box office
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $5,480,378 in 2135 theatres in the United States and Canada. In total it had a worldwide gross of $23,936,908.[2]
Reception
The film was positively received by critics, with a 73% rating at Rotten Tomatoes based on 143 reviews. The consensus is "The likable leads and subversion of racial stereotypes elevate Harold and Kumar above the typical stoner comedy."[3][4]
In Popular Culture
- Washington producer RazorJade sampled the line "Come on Pookie, let's burn this mother fucker down!" in his 2008 single, "Burn This Down"[citation needed]
Home media
The film was released in a theatrical and Unrated edition DVD on January 4, 2005 and was re-released again on April 1, 2008 in an "Extreme Unrated" edition remastered in time for the new sequel, which opened in theatres worldwide April 25, 2008. The film was released on Blu-Ray disc on July 29, 2008 along with the DVD release of Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay.[citation needed]
Sequels
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is the 2008 sequel to White Castle. The movie revolves around Harold and Kumar trying to get to Amsterdam to find Maria, but when Kumar is mistaken for a terrorist on the plane, they're sent to Guantanamo Bay.
Both Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have announced plans to write and direct a third Harold and Kumar movie, with Greg Shapiro returning as producer, and Kal Penn and John Cho expected to return in their title roles.[5][6] However, this was announced before Penn left his acting career to take a job at the White House.
References
External links
