2 of 3

Write now Article Tools

It can be funny sometimes how a movie can become a defining moment during a particular time. Just a few years ago in 2004, I was on holiday in Crete and had got into the habit of eating at tavernas that offered showings of the latest movie releases while you ate. The legality of this was somewhat unclear as these were films that had only just hit US audiences in movie theatres on release but my conscience did manage to overcome this possible infringement of copyright law when I became entranced by one particular movie from New Line Cinema, on a balmy evening on our beautiful holiday island.

The movie we saw was titled "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" but by the time it had crossed the pond to UK shores it had become "Harold and Kumar Get the Munchies". Harold (John Jo) is a Korean youth working at an investment bank. Told to finish some work over the weekend by a couple of disrespectful co-workers so that they can slope off to party, Harold calls his friend Kumar (Kal Penn) who persuades him to come over and smoke marijuana. The only problem is that the conversation takes place during Kumar's interview to gain entry into Medical School and with the interviewer overhearing the boys' discussion, Kumar promptly gets rejected spelling trouble with his father. Harold and Kumar subsequently smoke the dope in their apartment which triggers a craving for burgers. Not just any burgers, they have to be burgers from the White Castle franchise and they set out to find the nearest outlet to indulge their desires. What follows is an apocalyptic road journey involving ker-azee raccoons, mad cap cheetahs, an insane Jesus loving mechanic and his lecherous wife and no small measure of racist behaviour from the locals!

Where the movie succeeds in spades is in its gross out comedy. In the best traditions of "American Pie", "Dumb and Dumber" and all those teen/sex comedies, "Harold and Kumar" is a very funny movie. Both leads are utterly charming, deliberately nave in their roles and find a timing that's so crucial to comedy that complements the numerous sight gags along the way. Harold's crush on Maria, Kumar's rebellion against his father's insistence that he follows a career in medicine and the pair's non-violent abhorrence of the racism that they encounter endears them to the audience almost from the first reel. Directed by Danny Leiner, much of the humour translates well from his previous work on "Dude Where's My Car?" Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg's screenplay is

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Movie reviews: Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle?
We want to hear your view. Write now!