Not too much of a "flashback" considering the movie just came out on DVD and was in theaters only a couple of months ago. But when you're hanging out with friends looking for a movie to give you a cheap laugh, it doesn't matter where it comes from. And while perusing comedy titles on their television, we came across this movie, and gave it a chance. So now I present to you a review for:
Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay
Two college student potheads named Harold and Kumar get the chance to go their their dream vacation to Amsterdam (for obvious reasons). But thanks to the stupidity of Kumar, both are accused of being terrorists by the passengers on the flight, and sentenced to the prison on Guantanamo Bay. Yet with an amazing amount of luck, both break out, and attempt to head to Texas where an old friend can help them out (although Kumar wants to go just to stop the wedding of an ex-girlfriend). So begins the adventure of these two stoners, leading to many uncomfortable situations, close capture by the government, and a run-in with Neil Patrick Harris (playing himself).
Those familiar with the first movie "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle" know what to expect from this movie. Gross jokes, drug-induced visuals, and crude visual humor are very much present in this movie, and are even a step up from the first movie. Many jokes are creative, while some of the visuals immediately get your attention (some of which force you to react out loud, like we did) by way of showing you something you'd never expect. For example, Harold and Kumar go to a friend's party, and find that rather than highlight "topless" women, he tries to show a new style in "bottomless" women. John Cho and Kal Penn are able to stick to their characters well, but just like the first movie, Neil Patrick Harris has the best moments in the movie (from evading government agents while on shrooms to getting laid at a whorehouse).
Though the gags do get you wide-eyed, many are few and far between. There seem to be many moments where the people who made the movie make an attempt to tell a serious story, and it's plainly obvious that we are not supposed to take this movie seriously. The first movie keeps the jokes going non-stop, while this one takes a few too many breathers. And the rest of the cast play unoriginal characters that you could care less about. For instance, Rob Corddry plays an inept but bully of a government agent trying to capture Harold and Kumar, and does nothing to impress.
Definitely not the strongest of comedy movies, and not even better than the first, "Harold and Kumar" is only for those who love low-brow comedy, or may even think the first movie was the best comedy of all-time (far-fetched that definitely is..........did that make me sound like Yoda?). Even though it has its moments, anyone attempting to watch it a second time could fast-forward through much of it just to watch the good parts, and get through it in about 30 minutes. This would be a good idea if you need to kill some time before something good comes on TV, and honestly, just watching those few good scenes would actually be entertaining enough. I do reccommend the scene of the two getting high with George W. while he actually gives an impassioned quote:
"You don't have to believe in your government to be a good American. You just have to believe in your country."
Why couldn't he say something like that in any speech he gives?
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