By: The Dweeb

July 2008

DVD Features Video: 1.85:1 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1,  Dolby Digital 2.0 Dude, Change The Movie! Interactive Feature Puts You in Control of Harold and Kumar’s Trip! Select From New and Alternate Scenes to Change the Course of the Film! Many Possible Options! Includes Bonus Digital Copy - Commentary with the Directors and the Stars - Commentary with the Directors, the real “Harold Lee” and the guy who plays George W. Bush - “The World of Harold and Kumar” Featurette - 27 Additional Scenes - Bush PSA Theatrical release: 2001 DVD released on 7/29/2008 by Warner Bros. Running time of 107 minutes Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Kal Penn, John Cho Director:John Hurwitz Hayden Schlossberg Plot: On their flight to Amsterdam, Harold and Kumar are mistaken for terrorists and sent to Guantanamo Bay… but not for long. They bust out and go on a cross-country road trip to clear their names and win over their hotties! But first they’ll have to outsmart the Feds, outrun the Klan and enlist the help of a hallucinating Neil Patrick Harris.

Dude! Its Harold and Kumar and their misadventures continue in this sequel to their first attempted outing to White Castle a few years ago. Guantanamo Bay takes this duo to an entirely new level of outrageous comedy, you’ll be grinning from ear to ear after this film is over. I haven’t seen a modern comedy film in years capable of making me laugh out loud like this film. Its a stoner comedy and its heavy reliance on the vulgar are what tickle the 15 year old in me, probably a movie that’s more for the guys (ie Boobies!) than the gals. Kinda like The Three Stooges, most women just don’t get it, its just too juvenile for their female tastes. Harold and Kumar definitely finds the line for political correctness and good taste, and then proceeds to trample it with abandon. As an extension of the earlier film, its just a ton of fun to watch as the situation goes from bad to worse for our hapless stoners. Yes its a really stupid film, but I like it okay?

The film holds nothing back, from assailing Americans fear and paranoia of middle eastern looking men on airplanes, southern racists and the idiots that seem to be in charge of Homeland Security, that puts our country in a really bad light. What does that say about our society? Yes it is a comedy first and foremost but underneath lies the message that although on the surface America has changed its views on race and other cultures, racism and stereotyping still remain rampant today. The film touches upon the uncomfortable truth within us, we know this is unfortunately true in our hearts but don’t have the guts to face it head on. The film helps shed some light on the problem, and then allows us to laugh at its absurdity. Not since Blazing Saddles has a film been able to send this message. Why is it a comedy has the sack to talk about this issue when nobody else will?  Not much has changed in thirty years now has it?

But enough about that, I’m bringing myself down now. This movie is f$%king funny, thanks to the Odd Couple like pairing of Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) and Harold Lee (John Cho) and the idiotically hilarious  characters that seem to come out every nook and cranny. Harold is of course the straight man and Kumar just doesn’t think ahead about his actions consequences and lands them in enough trouble to take them to the black depths of US foreign policy, Guantanamo Bay prison, all because of a misunderstanding. How they get out of each predicament and somehow eventually reach their goals of ‘getting the girl’ is what makes this fun. That and the reappearance of Neil Patrick Harris, in horny, sadomasochistic drugged out maniacal form is what makes this movie. I’d love to stick in a funny line from NPH right here, but I’m afraid its not fit to print for such a fine publication such as this. Cough. 

I have to give it to the DVD authors here folks, the idea of choosing the situation in “Dude Change The Movie!” mode is fantastic and I highly recommend watching it straight through first, then in this mode. Its a choose your own adventure option that is loads of fun and adds a lot of great interactivity to this DVD that you don’t see too often these days. They went through some great efforts here, even to the point of a mini movie with a completely different story line if you choose not to smoke some pot on the airplane. Its hilarious and well worth the time.  There are also plenty of other extras included, as well as a digital copy for your portable viewing pleasure. Lots of good stuff on here and a good example of when studios take some time and effort to make a great DVD for the movie. Definitely check this comedy out if you loved the first one.

Reviewer’s Opinion: BUY IT!!