Genres

Visitors Review

Robin Clifford 2012-05-22 07:30:30

...has the same spirit of non-stop comedy as its predecessor and strikes the same chord in the hearts of those of us who appreciate a good laugh.

Lawrence Toppman 2012-05-21 12:14:31

The film feels careless and calculated at once: careless in its assembly, calculated in an attempt to copy Castle. (But who could blame Hurwitz and Schlossberg? They have no other film credits.)

Robert_Scott 2012-05-19 01:53:14

What can I say? This trip was even better...

I remember way back in 2004 getting pretty stoked for Harold and Kumargo to The White Castle (as eloquently put by the great Fred Willard)because this was something I certainly could relate to after a greatnight of partyin' like a rock star.However, after watching the moviewith such high expectations I honestly came out a little unsatisfied.As Simon Cowell once said, "It was like ordering a burger withoutgetting the meat". Don't get me wrong, I still liked it to a degree butit seemed to try too hard with both the comedy and social commentaryleaving a lingering stench of onion breath when it was all said anddone (hey, it could have been worse if you pick up what I'm layingdown).Well, enough about that, because four years later, the boys are backright where they left off on a mutual quest to Amsterdam for their ownreasons. Of course,the most crucial motivator of all, to smoke plentyof the finest weed in the world - legally (woot!). After a funnyaltercation with security at the airport (despite being diluted bybeing featured in the preview) the adventure fires back up as theoveranxious Kumar has managed to cause a scenario that in the eyes ofnarrow minded yet hilariously idiotic Homeland Security Agent, Ron Fox(Rob Corddry who effectively channels a reminiscent Stanley Kowalski),is grounds for a hospitable vacation in G Bay instead- where the cockmeat sandwiches are the featured everyday menu special. Yeah, it'sexactly what you think it is.Now here's where I think the movie somewhat changes direction to maybeaggravate or confuse a few viewers that I feel should be establishedright here and now. Instead of this being a movie mostly set in prisonwith a dramatic escape finale, the boys actually escape rather quicklyturning it into another road movie in the spirit of the original andkinda like Eurotrip except it didn't suck. In the remarkably deft handsof writer/director team Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg backing thislatest production, the delicate craft of separating the variousadventures from potentially dismal absurdity into genuine comedy was sosuccessful that I confidently say this has been one of the mostimproved sequels I've seen in some time. Not to mention, the real magicof this film doesn't end with consecutively funny scenes either. Theheart and soul of this film is contained within the incorporation of asatirical and pertinent take on society's existing misconceptions aswell as inversely examining solutions with a naturally realistic lookat friendships and even romance...there was a bottomless party too.

Metatherone 2012-05-18 12:08:18

NPH - 'Nuff Said

To begin, I was surprisingly impressed with Harold and Kumar go toWhite Castle. I hadn't expected more than just a dumb, buddy stonermovie and when I finally saw it, I really enjoyed it. A lot! So whenthe sequel came out, I was admittedly looking forward to it.The movie picks up with Kumar accompanying Harold to Amsterdam. On theway, Kumar runs into his old girlfriend, now engaged, and the two getarrested when an overly paranoid passenger mistakes the two forterrorists. The two are sent to Guantanamo Bay by an overly paranoidand under qualified Homeland Security officer. I don't see any spoilerin saying they escape, after all it is in the title of the film, andhave 7 days to get from Florida to Texas without being picked up inorder to clear their names.I think one of the things that annoyed me the most about this movie wasthe over-emphasis on smoking. It's obviously going to be there as it isa buddy stoner movie, and though it has been a while and I could haveforgotten, I don't seem to recall a pot scene around every corner inthe first movie. In the sequel, I can't really think of any scene thatdidn't somehow go right back to it. It became "We're on a plane. Let'ssmoke," "We're in the sticks. It just got a little old for me I guess.Let's smoke," We're on the Lam. Let's smoke" But overall, the movie hadsome great laughs. I won't cite any in particular, but there were somehilarious moments. And of course, Neil Patrick Harris. Oh, thoseHershey's Kisses...All in all, it was fun and I'd recommend seeing it if you were a fan ofthe first, but I think this movie could have done more than justrehashing the same jokes from the first.

2012-05-18 05:33:44

does not work because of all the scratches

This review is from: Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (Unrated Edition) (DVD) they inside of the dvd case on BOTH dvds was broken and didnt hold the dvds in place. they are both covered in scratch and barely play. might as well be garbage.

Harvey S. Karten 2012-05-17 13:38:37

The satire is anything but nuanced in this zany comedy targeted to the 17-35 set, and that's just how its audience likes it.

Leslie Gornstein 2012-05-15 17:38:17

It was fresh the first time.

greensider 2012-05-15 05:08:18

What Did They Do???

Don't get me wrong, I Love Harold and Kumar... the characters are agreat couple of friends that do stuff that are funny and you get agreat feeling of appreciation of them.As Soon as me and my friends watched the first one, we waited like 2years or so for the sequel to come out because we thought H&K was sucha great movie that the sequel HAD to be good. As soon as we found out,it was out, we watched it and it started quite good but after like 15minutes the story just got quite weird and the jokes were terrible, butbecause we taught "This movie HAS to be good, come on it's Harold &Kumar" but the further we got in the movie we found out that it makesabsolutely no sense at all... the first movie had a point, a goal, inthe second movie that goal is more the side story.After we saw the cyclops-scene we almost turned the movie off... comeon people ... Harold & Kumar are simple characters, doing simple stuff(exept for the cheetah and the paragliding off course) but the sequelis soo going over it that it's just awful.I'm not writing off H&K (I really hope the makers make up for thesequel) and I'm definitely going to watch the third one but the makersreally have to put some work in it ... go back to the basics ...special effects aren't the point in movies like these.To other people who like H&K: H&K rule, The sequel is an abomination

2012-05-12 13:10:35

The New Millenium's Cheech and Chong

I wasn't expecting it, but this movie actually made me laugh in several places. It is slap-stick comedy -- not usually my favorite, but they get a few good lines in there. This schtick has all been done before, but I guess today's generation needs their very own Cheech and Chong and Harold and Kumar fit the bill. Warning: There is a lot of sexually explicit activity going on and some REALLY gross scenes.

Prairie Miller 2012-05-11 22:12:47

A prison sex slave rebellion having to do with an organ sandwich, don't ask, and a detour over to Bush's secret sex den, make this ballsy doper duo and their Blue State versus Red State rant hard to resist.

Chris Hewitt (St. Paul) 2012-05-09 14:04:11

Did I really just compare H and K to a Neil Simon comedy?

2012-05-08 17:44:07

Wrong region

This review is from: Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (Unrated Special Edition) [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) Had to unwrap to try, wrong region for Australia, Amazon info contradicts itself, some pages say can returned opened and others say cannot, still trying to find a way to contact someone at Amazon to get an answer...

moviesleuth2 2012-04-29 18:12:02

Amusing, but little else

As much as I would like to rave praise about Gen-X's beloved stonerduo's new film, I can't. Harold and Kumar's second adventure, whilesometimes amusing, is a far step below their first trip.Right after they successfully found White Castle, Harold and Kumarfollow Maria, Harold's would-be girlfriend from afar, to Amsterdam.Unfortunately, a misunderstanding causes them to wind up in GuantanamoBay. As the title suggests, they escape, and they have to make theirway to Texas to clear their names.The problem with the film is that the material isn't that funny. Whilethe subjects for the jokes are ripe for ridicule (especially an idioticgovernment agent (Rob Cordoroy), in a performance that's only funnybecause it has an obvious element of truth in it), they aren't attackedwith any vigor. The humor needs to be sharp, instead, it's rather flat.John Cho and Kal Penn are clearly comfortable with their characters,and easily slide back into them. Rob Cordory has to potential to behilarious, but the screenplay lets him down. Bit parts are supplied byDaneel Harris, Eric Winter, and others, but no one has any standoutscenes. New to the cast is Beverly D'Angelo in a small, but slightlymemorable part. Christopher Meloni, Eddie Kaye Thomas and DavidKrumholtz return, as does of course, Neil Patrick Harris.Do I recommend it? It really doesn't matter, because fans of the firstwill see it regardless, if they haven't already. But unless you're adie-hard fan of the first, skip it.

fantasyescapist 2012-04-29 06:53:34

Has it's moments, but I think the first is funnier ...

I saw this Tues evening, cause I thought the first was hilarious butthis was a bit disappointing to me.It starts set like the next day from the first film with a gross-outscene involving toilet humour. It then progresses with an escapce9asindicated in the title) and some outrageous meetings into all sorts ofpeople(one of them is the most important in the US).Acting: Quite decent from everyone. I didn't notice any notably weakpeople. I think our stoner duo have good comic delivery.Pacing: Similar to the first but about 20mins longer running time. Ithought they could've been a sort of montage of what happened toso-and-so character like the first, and more jokes, as it seemed to runout of steam before the end.Cinematography: It's alright to me. Not cutting edge-looking orwhatever, but decent. Some of the gross-out gags including someonerubbing their bum on paper went a bit too far for my taste.Music: The soundtrack of songs, like rap, pop etc did fit well I felteven if I didn't like some.Overall: The first had funnier moments(like the weed fantasy - whichdoes make an appearance here, but wasn't as funny to me), and some USjokes just weren't understood by my audience(like the grape juice beingpoured). Liked the unicorn stuff. Good but the first is better.

mjjusa-1 2012-04-26 12:20:31

A short stay at Guantanamo might be preferable

Aliens must have taken over the bodies and minds of Jon Hurwitz andHayden Schlossberg. There can be no other explanation as to how thewriters of 'Harold and Kumar Go To The White Castle' could have writtensuch dreck, and, trust me, dreck it is. Unmitigated dreck. Not a laughin ninety two minutes (a guess) dreck. Dreck that gives dreck a badname dreck. How bad a movie? Let me count the ways: a sequel to apretty funny movie that makes you wonder whether blindfolded monkeystyping on keyboards could have produced a better screenplay...thereduction of two funny characters into unpleasant unredeemable wastesof celluloid...pre-adolescent sexual humor that wouldn't be funny toBart Simpson...a stoner movie that a stoner would think was made as aDEA warning film filled with attempts at visual and verbal jokes thatonly a team of GS 14s with twenty years in writing memos couldproduce...I could go on.The worst movie of the year. The worst sequel of the decade. Thepremier must have been more a wake than happy occasion with all theprincipals present. They had to know. And, yet they released it on toan unsuspecting group of White Castle fans.Fitzgerald wrote that there are no second acts in American lives.Hopefully there will be no third act in Hurwitz and Schlossberg'sscreen writing careers...they tapped out on the way to White Castle andruined Harold and Kumar for all of us.

Michael W. Phillips, Jr. 2012-04-26 05:40:45

Overall, it's an enjoyable sequel, although not up to the admittedly high--heh--standards of the first installment.

2012-04-25 01:52:46

A very welcome sequel.

Much funnier then expected. Funnier then White Castle? Yes, Ruder thenWhite Castle? Yes, More unexpected then White Castle? Oh god yes.Harold and Kumar was one of the funniest movies i have seen this year.Coming up behind Forgetting Sarah Marshall.One thing i really loved about this movie was the way they made fun ofcelebrities. I loved the George Bush scene and i loved the return ofNeil Patrick Harris.I recommend it if you liked the original. There's more laughs and morenudity. Overall Harold and Kumar 2 was funny and even had a littleheart and was a unexpected sequel.7/10

Kevin N. Laforest 2012-04-24 13:22:27

Sharp satire, d--- and fart jokes... and Neil Patrick Harris!

2012-04-24 04:15:05

Escaping From Guantanamo Bay Was Pretty Funny!!!

But it's not the best sequel I've seen. Right after returning from White Castle, Harold and Kumar try to go to Amsterdam to see Harold's girlfriend. During the flight, Kumar whips out a home-made bong and some racist old girl thinks he's a terrorist setting off a bomb. After they arrive in G.B. some real terrorists try to escape, and Harold and Kumar try to break out too. During their adventures, the dumb Government people try to get them back, they end up at a KKK meeting, meet Neil Patrick Harris again, smoke weed with George W. Bush and more. If you like Harold and Kumar, you might like HAROLD AND KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY!!!

2012-04-23 11:33:02

H&K are back again and better than ever

There's no question Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay is arguably one of the dumbest comedies you will ever see. Little of it makes sense and none of it is actually possible. Well, I can't say none of it, but most of it is highly unlikely. And yet, the movie has some of the funniest (and most disturbing) scenes you'll ever see on screen. There's what has to be the film world's first bottomless party. There's a 3-way between Kumar, his ex-girlfriend and a large bag of weed (which, like most of the movie, starts of funny, gets funnier, then turns exceedingly disturbing). And there's President Bush toking up with our two anti-heroes. And in between there's all sorts of humor, much of it drug or race related.Rob Corddry plays an FBI agent hunting down Harold and Kumar, and he may be the most racist person you'll ever see in a movie. Everyone who isn't white (and Catholic) is a suspect, and the manner in which he goes about trying to get information is painfully racist and funny. Whether it's grape soda and a black witness, or nickels to a Jewish pair of friends (who you'll recognize from the original film), he'll do whatever it takes to get Harold and Kumar and send them back to prison.Yes, the movie title involves them escaping from the notorious prison in Cuba, but that portion of the film lasts all of five minutes. And even though the movie starts 5 minutes after the first one ends, the movie isn't really about them going to Amsterdam to find Harold's love. The movie really turns into a cross country trip to Texas to try and clear their names. From Cuba to Miami, through Alabama and Louisiana, the potheads we love to love have to get through all manner of obstacles to try and get to a former classmates wedding, so he can use his connections to save them. Along the way Kumar sees an ex-girlfriend, who coincidentally is getting married to their classmate. He realizes on the spot he's still in love with her, so getting to the wedding now has more purpose. Oh, and of course, Neil Patrick Harris is still driving aimlessly around the country and runs into the guys again. This leads to a scene at a whorehouse, and a shocking conclusion. By the way, don't leave the theater too quickly when the movie ends. Stay for the credits so you don't miss the very end of the film.I laughed throughout most of the film, groaned in a couple of places, and had to say 'Oh God!' a couple of times as well. The people in the theater were a strange mix because while most loved it, there were a few who just sat there stonefaced. Why would anyone go to this movie and sit there with a blank look on their face? What did they expect? An Oscar-worthy film? This movie is rude and crude, disgusting and hilarious. It's the kind of movie you go to with a blank mind and have a good time.