I swore that I would never see this film. Ever, ever, ever, ever, ever. It never looked interesting, funny or intriguing.
Having seen it I can certainly say now, without a doubt… I was wrong.
Lighting up the screen
If you don’t know the basic premise behind Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle it is quite simple. Harold and Kumar are best friends and roommates. Harold is an up and coming office white-collar, who can’t stand up for himself against his co-workers and can’t seem to talk to the girl of his dreams who resides at his apartment complex. Kumar is a toker and a slacker. Kumar is certainly smart enough to be a doctor, but chooses to use his time smoking weed and eating (and doing other things dudes usually do). One night as the two are watching television, high off of more than life, they see a White Castle commercial. They make it their destiny to drive to White Castle and enjoy their burgers, fries and drinks. Picking the destination is easier than getting there, and they soon find this out the hard way. Let’s just say they run into a cheetah, ‘extreme’ dudes, racist cops, a freakshow (see CSI: SVU for details) and Neil Patrick Harris. All of these things and people create for one of the most memorial nights these fellows have ever had.
The movie isn’t going to win any Academy Awards. It’s sloppy, it’s stupid, it’s very childish most of the time, but damn it’s funny because of all those wonderful things. The director Danny Leiner and writers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (I can’t believe it took two writers for this) put together a simple goal and concept, and seemed to fill in the gaps of what stands between A and B in the underlying story of these two characters getting to White Castle. Some of the things the pair of characters run into are so oddball. Neil Patrick Harris single-handedly revived his own career in front of the camera because of this movie. Say this guy’s name and you think of Harold and Kumar instantly. I mean, wow! Harris is funny as sin and thankfully shines a new light of comedy on his ever expanding acting career. Anyway, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle was put together in a way that everyone will appreciate the comedy in some form or fashion. It’s got a little bit for everyone and enough to make you go, “Oh, why did they do that?”, but in a good way.
As for the players in this film, John Cho’s first major motion picture (in a lead role) couldn’t have been better. Most of you won’t know him, but he’s the guy yelling MILF at Stiffler’s mom’s picture in American Pie. Still one of the funniest parts of that movie for me. Kal Penn also seems to have stepped up his career because of this film. Several people remember Penn in the already offensive film National Lampoon’s: Van Wilder, though we would love to forget him in Superman Returns, but that’s not his fault… that’s Bryan Singer’s. I digress, these two guys dedicated themselves to the characters and it shows. They look comfortable, but also distinguish themselves quite differently. Cho plays a wonderful high-strung character who is just looking for a break, while Penn brings the opposite with his slack-ass Kumar who doesn’t care about much. It’s a match made in heaven and they play off each other perfectly!
Anyway, the movie is good, not great, and deserves your Saturday evening attention once the kids or parents have gone to bed. If you’re looking for a good time that doesn’t make you think one bit, then look no further than Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. It’s freakin’ good… to an extent.
Thank you Neil Patrick Harris.
Blu-ray, but is it necessary
Without a doubt, I believe that some movies need Blu-ray and some just don’t. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle is certainly a good film that looks good in HD. I’m not sure if it fully benefited from the Blu-ray format. The audio is definitely improved, as well as the visuals, but there just doesn’t seem a need (other than to add it to the future library) for such a leap. Again, it looks really sharp and sounds really good, it’s everything HD should be. It just isn’t a Batman Begins caliber of visuals/sounds benefit.
The features are great, though! You get some outtakes, commentary, a fascinatingly cool trailer (I love trailers, so sue me!) and other goodies that make the Blu-ray shine. The menu system could have been updated and improved a bit, but we’ll forgive/forget for that. I really enjoyed going through the features and it’s certainly a plus on the Blu-ray format. It will give you a bit more insight into the making and purpose of the film.
Smoke ’em while you got ’em
Again, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle is entertaining and memorable. It won’t win awards, but it certainly already has a small following that is getting bigger and bigger with each passing movie they make (you have to be doing something right when the first makes $18 million and the second makes $38 million). The movie will make you laugh and cry (because you’re laughing) and should satisfy your need for relaxation, especially on Blu-ray.
Go grab some grub and check this out while you’re out.