| |
 |
|
|
Movies Forum Index » Movie Reviews Forum » Review: Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)
Page 1 of 1
|
| Author |
Message |
| Homer Yen |
 Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:13 pm |
|
|
|
Guest
|
bHarold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bayb -- This Time, Itbs the
Audience that Takes the Hit
When their first bstoner-buddyb film came out in 2004 (bHarold and
Kumar Go to White Castleb), it was a funny night of frustration and
near-death experiences. Their single-minded purpose to find the
closest White Castle restaurant was only temporarily compromised by
the need to find marijuana along the way. The two starring actors had
faces that seemed more familiar than their names. The Asian dude is
Harold (John Cho) and the Indian dude is Kumar (Kal Penn). But since
that first film, each has earned some credibility. Cho appeared as a
guest star on several TV shows and will play Lt. Sulu in the upcoming
bStar Trekb prequel. Meanwhile, Penn starred in the critically-liked
2006bs bThe Namesakeb.
Well, whatever advances theybve made since then will be effectively
nullified with this moronic follow-up. If you saw Harold and Kumarbs
burger quest in 2004 and you have some kind of loyalty to these two,
then you may want to see them escape from Guantanamo Bay if only
because there arenbt many comedy films that pair a Korean and an
Indian. But if you never saw them before, then trust me when I say
that now is not the time to get acquainted with them. This film is
barely funny, often banal, and frequently bad.
The film is overflowing with naughty stoner antics. Get ready for
plenty of nude women, liberal bong usage, and Neil Patrick Harris
chasing unicorns while 'shrooming. The charm and the wit present
throughout the first film disappear about 20 minutes into this one.
It starts out ok enough. Harold and Kumar are on a flight, Amsterdam
bound to find girls and ganja. But Kumar, who could be the cover boy
for High Times magazine, canbt wait and feels compelled to try out his
scientifically advanced bong. The apparatus looks suspiciously like a
bomb. Kumar looks suspiciously like a terrorist. Good bye Amsterdam,
hello imprisonment.
From the title of the film, itbs no surprise that they escape. And
now begins a manic road trip from Miami to Texas where these two hope
to find a way to resolve their troubles. Along the way, they run into
a lewd pool party, enter a downtrodden neighborhood, meet a bizarre
deer hunter, stumble upon a KKK camp, and run into (again) Neil
Patrick Harris.
I have to say that this is the first film this year that actually gave
me something of a headache. If you want to see a hilarious road trip
film, rent out 2000bs bRoad Trip.b Harold and Kumarbs insipid
travelogue make bBoratb look like a genius. My patience wore out
after 70 minutes of film. And jeers go out to the government agent
that uses all sorts of racist tactics to try to track Harold and Kumar
down. The stuff that he does is never funny and borders on the
insulting.
Revisiting my review of the first film, I stated that if there bwere
an awards category that recognized the Best Film to Watch after
Midnight while Buzzed, bHarold and Kumar Go to White Castleb would
win. That was then, and this is now. bH & Kb is so pedantic that it
makes me feel sad that the filmmakers had no clever ideas whatsoever
to give to these two fun-loving people. Perhaps it was the filmmakers
who were indeed stoned. Well, thatbs not really fair. I made the
choice to pay for the ticket. In actuality, maybe it was I that was
stoned.
Grade: C-
S: 3 out of 3
V: 1 out of 3
L: 3 out of 3
_________________________________________________________________
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try
it now. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
|
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
The time now is Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:25 pm
|
|