Harold & Kumar

Last weekend I grabbed a bunch of friends and made haste to my local theatre in Bayridge. My Goddess I was frothing at the bit to see the sequel to Harold and Kumar go to White Castle as it is one of my fave comedies and quotable films. The characters of Harold and Kumar are reminiscent of the traditional comedy duos of straight man and comedic foil. Though Harold and Kumar have a 420 bent, they are less like Cheech and Chong and more like Abbot and Costello. Who's on first base anyone?

With a sequel there is always one of three possibilities. 1. film can be as good as the original (Austin Powers 2). 2. film can be better than original (Prophecy 2 & 3). 3. or a film sequel can be so bad we pretend only the first one exists and we disown and disavow all that came after (Matrix 2&3, Highlander 2,3,etc).

So where does Harold and Kumar Escape from Gitmo land? Let's see.

This incarnation of the super comedic duo finds them starting where they left off in the first one, on their way to Amsterdam. Gosh I like it when a film doesn't forget that the audience still remembers what happened in the first one no matter how much 420 was smoked. So far so good. The characters true to themselves quickly get into hijinx as soon as they get to the airport and all their good plans go out to pasture. Many new characters get introduced (including the current prez with much comedic aplomb) but old characters are not forgotten. Lots of references from the duos last journey are called back and so are old characters. In fact, we even get Neil Patrick Harris back with more screen time and every frame fucking funny.

The writers never pull punches. Of course there is the pro-marijuana agenda that is always a consistent theme as well as the anti redneck/racist/hater/thought zombie . Hell, they even make a political statement swathed in hilarity (how else could they possibly tackle the current regime). Totally sweet.

The cast is superb and on pointe. From the main characters to bit players, each line is delivered with care for maximum funny. The joy these actors take in delivering their lines is obvious so there are no throwaways or phoned in performances. The reactions and silences are just as witty and well delivered as the lines themselves.

In the end, both Harold and Kumar get the girl, get the weed, get to share a fat spliff with Dubya, make racists, government toads look like the duchebags they are and even get the vacation in Amsterdam. Happy ending. What's not to love? So I have no choice to rate this at least as good as the original. When is comes out on DVD I will own this badboy. Hell I'll even pay for it.