by Esmeralda Draic

Created on: May 17, 2009

Starring:
John Cho as Harold Lee
Kal Penn as Kumar Patel
Neil Patrick Harris as himself
James Adomian as George W. Bush

This comedy film has had some pretty mixed reviews, mainly leaning more towards the negative than the positive. Having the sort of arrested-development juvenile sense of humour that I have, I enjoyed this wacky, outrageous and politically-incorrect extravaganza. I agree that it's not Oscar-winning material nor of Shakespearean writing or acting calibre. I also agree that it's not as good as the first one, 'Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle', which has become somewhat of a cult film. But I spent most of this one's run time in hysterics, so it was really pretty good in my own opinion (and my Significant Other is very pernickity about films and is not as silly as I am, but he liked it too).

The two films in the 'Harold and Kumar' series follow the adventures of two best pals who are sort of a cross between 'Bill & Ted' and 'Cheech & Chong', and find themselves in a non-stop series of improbable, ultra-nutty, off-the-wall and often surreal scenarios with some of the most bizarre people. One of the most notable of these bizarre characters is Neil Patrick Harris (who played 'Doogie Howser' in the TV series of that name), who appears in both films playing 'himself' in a breathtakingly OTT performance as a totally deranged sex-and-drug-crazed lunatic. Harold and Kumar themselves are very funny, coming across naturally and believably as a somewhat uptight nerd (Harold) and a happy-go-lucky stoner who is always getting both of them into trouble (Kumar), and both of whom are a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

The new film picks up where the first one left off, where Harold seemed maybe just about to finally have some success with the lovely Maria, with whom he was smitten in the first film. We start by seeing Harold in the shower recalling happy memories of his few treasured moments with Maria, to the accompaniment of Louis Armstrong's 'Wonderful World'. Awwww.

But we are then unpleasantly brought down to earth with a bump by squelchy fart noises. Harold looks out of the shower curtain, to see Kumar sitting on the toilet right next to him. 'What are you DOING?' Harold cries. 'I'm taking the most incredible dump of all time, man,' Kumar replies ecstatically, explaining that it's as a result of the dozens of burgers they had eaten at White Castle. This pretty well sets the tone of the film. Harold expresses his disgust, and then Kumar reminds him 'We

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