Review: ‘Harold & Kumar Escape…’

As I hesitantly approached the box office, reluctantly reaching for my wallet to pay my $9 for admission into a sequel to a goofy comedy at 11:35pm, I asked myself … “will this be worth it?” I loved the first movie, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, but did it warrant a second outing. Was the idea capable of holding up through another 90 minutes? The answer, perhaps surprisingly, is Hell yes!!!

Sure, I had my doubts. After all, it is just a movie about two stoned slackers getting into trouble and then trying to find a way to get out of trouble. But, the fascinating thing about Harold & Kumar is that its comedy that’s both stupid and smart at the same time. And … dare I say it? I think, maybe … just, maybe … Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay could, just possibly … be better than the first. And yes, as the title suggests, they do escape … but, that’s where the real fun begins.

The story goes something like this: Just a week or so after the first film leaves off, Harold decides he has to follow Maria (his love interest from the first movie) to Amsterdam because he fears losing her. Just before they leave, Kumar finds he can’t quite shake Vanessa (his girlfriend he broke up with) from his mind. Harold & Kumar are on their way, when during their flight a misunderstanding between them, the passengers and the disguised air marshalls lead them to a frightening stay at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. As Harold & Kumar flee from Deputy Frye, the idiotic head of the Department of Homeland Security, they encounter many eccentric, exotic and absurd characters. From bottomless parties to dinner with cultured sophisticated rednecks, Harold & Kumar even find themselves getting high with President Bush. They also end up tagging along with an old friend from the first movie. Here’s a hint … he played a child doctor on TV. Unfortunately, his fate is not so good this time. Fast forward … do Harold & Kumar get their girls? Do they escape from the evil clutches of Deputy Frye? Do they ever make it to Amsterdam?

I recommend you see this movie, but only if you want to laugh your a** off … ultimately its kind of the same movie as the first, but the humor seemed … better, I guess. If I had to rate it on a laughter scale of 1-10 the first movie would be about 8 and this one would be 8.5 — and if nothing else, you will want to get through to the end to hear Kumar recite his dreaded poem ‘Root of 3’ which actually ends up being kind of cool, in a nerdy sort of way. [One tip, I always prefer to see comedies when the theatre is full. Funny movies are funnier when others are laughing around you … and, if its not funny, you don’t feel so bad when a crowded theatre of disappointed movie-watchers are suffering through a bad movie with you. Fortunately, Harold & Kumar has the theatre rolling the entire time.]
[rating:3/5]