Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008) New Line/Comedy RT: 107 minutes Unrated Version (strong crude and sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language and drug use) Director: Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg Screenplay: Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg Music: George S. Clinton Cinematography: Daryn Okada Release date: April 25, 2008 (US) Cast: John Cho, Kal Penn, Danneel Harris, Rob Corddry, Roger Bart, Eric Winter, Neil Patrick Harris, Paula Garces, Amir Talai, David Krumholtz, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Christopher Meloni (as “Reverend Clyde Stanky”), Jack Conley, Jon Reep, Missi Pyle, Mark Munoz, Beverly D’Angelo, Echo Valley, James Adomian, Ed Helms. Box Office: $38.1M (US)/$43.4M (World)
Rating: *** ½
In a move reminiscent of Porky’s II: The Next Day, the sequel Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay picks right up where its predecessor left off. Moments after making a meaningful connection with foxy neighbor Maria (Garces, Marci X), Harold Lee (Cho, American Pie) is urged by best friend/roommate Kumar Patel (Penn, Van Wilder) to follow her to Amsterdam and surprise her. He reasons that she will surely hook up with another guy in the ten days she’ll be in the Dutch capital. Besides, guess what’s legal there?
After a perceived incident of racial profiling at the security checkpoint, the guys bump into Kumar’s ex-girlfriend Vanessa (Harris, Fired Up!) with her fiancee, Colton (Winter, TV’s The Rookie). He’s one of those wealthy, connected types who acts all friendly, but is actually an a**hole in disguise. Kumar sees it; Harold doesn’t. ANYWAY, their troubles begin when they’re mistaken for terrorists after Kumar breaks out a homemade smokeless bong on the plane. They’re immediately arrested and sent to Guantanamo Bay after interrogation by an extremely racist and extremely stupid Homeland Security agent, Fox (Corddry, Hot Tub Time Machine).
As per the title, the guys escape and sneak back into the US where Harold decides their best course of action is to go to Texas and ask Colton to help clear up the misunderstanding. By now, he’s had it with Kumar’s shenanigans and plans to end their friendship once they’re cleared of all wrongdoing. For Kumar’s part, he still loves Vanessa and plans to stop the wedding. Meanwhile, Agent Fox pulls out all the stops in his incompetent efforts to apprehend the boys and take them back to Guantanamo.
Once again, Harold and Kumar’s road trip is an eventful one. It starts when they stumble into a “bottomless party” (it’s just what it sounds like!) at a rich friend’s house in Florida. Along the way, they meet another creepy redneck (comedian Reep) with a hot, horny wife (Pyle, Josie and the Pussycats). In a case of one-upmanship, they’re an incestuous couple with a deformed child who lives in the basement. At one point, the boys find themselves at a KKK rally. Also, they visit a brothel with their old pal Neil Patrick Harris after he picks them up hitchhiking. Naturally, all hell breaks loose because of NPH. Who knew Doogie Howser was such a freak?
If you liked Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, there’s no reason you won’t like Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay as well. It’s not just a rehash of the first movie. It sounds weird to say this about a stoner comedy, but it has a bit more depth to it. It has an actual plot and character development too. Harold has a point about Kumar. Once again, it’s entirely his fault. He’s a selfish, immature, irresponsible ass who thinks only of himself. He couldn’t wait until the plane landed to get high. Now thanks to him, they’re enemies of the government. It’s little wonder why Harold wants out of their friendship. You’d never see something like this in a Cheech & Chong movie.
The last thing I’d ever expect from a stoner comedy is great performances and you won’t find any here, at least not in the traditional sense. The two heroes are as goofy and likable as ever. Cho and Penn still have great rapport. Harris is charming as Kumar’s ex, especially in flashback scenes to when they were a couple. Winter is suitably despicable as the two-faced Colton who predictably reneges on his promise to help the guys should they ever need it. Neil Patrick Harris…. well, he’s just awesome!
HOWEVER, Corddry nearly steals the show as overzealous Fox, an extreme example of post-9/11 racism in federal law enforcement. This is a guy who tries to coerce information from a black witness by tempting him with a can of grape soda. Geez, why don’t you just offer him watermelon slices too? On a pragmatic level, this is very offensive and shouldn’t be funny, yet we laugh just the same because it’s so bloody ridiculous. Fox makes Archie Bunker sound like the spokesman for racial harmony and a charter member of Mensa.
Barring any social relevance it may or may not have, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is a funny movie. Once again, that’s the most important thing. Like the first movie, it’ll definitely appeal to viewers indulging in wacky weed themselves. This one is especially gross, especially the “bottomless party” sequence where the host’s “equipment” resembles Osama bin Laden. I can’t explain, you have to see it for yourself. There’s also a graphic masturbation scene complete with a certain bodily fluid going “SPLAT!” on the person’s face. It also has a sweet side with Kumar realizing he still has feelings for his ex. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to stop the wedding. This includes jumping out a plane without a parachute. You’ll never believe whose house he and Harold land in. I’ll give you a hint, his middle name is W.
There’s a lot of fun to be had watching the Harold & Kumar movies. I’m surprised at how enjoyable the second one is. Comedy sequels tend to be lame. Look at City Slickers II, Vegas Vacation, Police Academy: Mission to Moscow and Zoolander 2. Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is one of the rare good ones. It’s as good as its predecessor. Obviously, neither of the H&K flicks will ever be mistaken for Citizen Kane or Casablanca, but who says all movies have to strive for that level of perfection? It’s okay to watch a movie that aims low. It’s okay to enjoy a comedy about silly characters that live life in a cloud of marijuana smoke. Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is a nice throwback to a time when teens and college students got really baked before going to see the latest Cheech & Chong opus. It seeks to do nothing more than make viewers laugh whether they’re stoned or not.
One final note, remember the final destination isn’t as important as the journey itself and getting there is all the fun. Hey, didn’t I already say this? ANWAY, don’t bogart that joint, my friend. Pass it over to me. Now let’s go one toke over the line and laugh ourselves silly.
