Although I stay absolutely clean of all substances, I can appreciate a good stoner movie. The stoner film genre has been a part of Hollywood for a very long time. It has its own niche and has seen some highly memorable films come from it. The films in this genre also tend to be buddy movies as well. I guess both of those things put together will allow for the comedic situations to really take flight. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle is no different in that sense and happens to be one of my personal favorites.
After a night of smoking "cigarettes", Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) get the strong urge to eat for some odd reason. Not only do they want something to fill their stomachs, but they want something specific. White Castle burgers are what they want and that's what they're determined to get. Not being able to find a White Castle is the first problem they run into. While they decide to do everything they can to find one of these restaurants, they run into even more issues that will send them on a very wild and crazy night across New Jersey.
When it comes to Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, it appears to have a smart and knowledgeable script behind it. This movie takes a look at some real issues such as bullying (before it became the "in thing" to stand up against), racism and racial stereotypes. Not only that, but it does it in a comedic way that flows well within the structure of the movie and its overlying plot. All of this is seen or experienced through the eyes of the film's two antagonists that are played by Kal Penn and John Cho.
Penn and Cho make a great pairing in this movie. Their characters are best friends, but polar opposites in several ways. In Cho's character Harold, we have a straight-laced, prudent and responsible stoner who comes off as a pushover and is always about getting work done. As a Korean-American he fits certain Asian stereotypes, but wants to avoid some of the others out there. We also have Penn's character Kumar, who is the careless wild man stoner of the two that may not be living up to his potential. His father and brother are both doctors and seem to fit some of the Indian stereotypes, but Kumar doesn't want any of it. For the record, I know that Indians are considered Asian, but sometimes they have their own stereotypes separate from other Asians.
Using these two central characters, the movie is able to focus and make fun of a lot of racial beliefs and stereotypes that exists in society. Being a movie that's about pot heads trying to get to White Castle, it ends up developing into and being about much more than that. It takes an odd approach that utilizes several people in a comedic fashion to tell a diverse story. It even includes Neil Patrick Harris, who plays a horny and drug obsessed straight version of himself and he undoubtedly leaves his own mark on the film.
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle is a crazy yet sensible movie where nothing feels as if it's out-of-place. Being a Black man, I can tell you a lot about stereotypes. Some are good, some are bad, some are completely offensive and some are just so stupid to the point that they're funny. You get these things thrown at you from everywhere and that's one of the things that this film talks about. It manages to fit these issues in with loads of comedy and a quest to satisfy the munchies of two friends that will lead them on a wild night that's filled with adventures, misadventures and life lessons.
Score: 3.5/5
Rating: R
Director: Danny Leiner
Cast:
John Cho
Kal Penn
Neil Patrick Harris
Paula Garcés
Film Length: 98 minutes
Release Date: July 30, 2004
Distributor: New Line Cinema
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