Saturday, August 30, 2008

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay – D

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (C+) was based in the reality of college nerds with the munchies after smoking pot. And while there were fantastical elements, most notably the openly gay Neil Patrick Harris playing a womanizing druggie, there was some charm to the interactions of the main characters. This sequel, as the title suggests, loses its way almost immediately, when Harold and Kumar are arrested after trying to smoke pot in an airplane bathroom. The “smokeless” bong is assumed to be a bomb, and the duo is sent to Guantanamo Bay. (Click below for the rest)

Apparently at Guantanamo, the US Military forces prisoners to perform fellatio. Apparently, in Alabama, all white people are incestuous, baby deer killing cretins and all black people like grape soda. Apparently, all “successful” white people got that way by screwing over Asian Americans and all hot white women prefer unemployed, unattractive, unmotivated underachievers to successful attractive men with connections. Sure, it’s only a movie, but it’s offensive. As is the duo smoking pot with George W. Bush (terrible impersonation, by the way) at his Crawford ranch.

Being offensive is OK with me (see Tropic Thunder) but co-writers/co-directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (both 30 year olds) are hopelessly incompetent with tone, pacing, writing, and character consistency. Their only film credit is . . . wait for it . . . writing the original Harold and Kumar movie. That film was directed by an experienced director, Danny Leiner, who’s responsible for many quality TV shows. Daily Show veterans Rob Corddry and Ed Helms have some humorous moments as Homeland Security personnel, but the likable John Cho (Harold) and Kal Penn (Kumar) are hung out to dry by Hurwitz and Schlossberg. D

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