Review of Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) by Jason D — 08 Feb 2010

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle works as a modern-day stoner comedy that gives a much deserved kick-start to a sub-genre of comedy that was created by forefathers Cheech and Chong. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle pretty much says it all in the title as stoner buddies Harold (John Cho, the MILF guy from the American Pies who finally gets thrust into lead roles) and Kumar (Kal Penn, who also finally gets thrust into lead roles and doesn't have to use generic Indian accents) crave the ulimate munchie food.

Once they decide upon the great, yet elusive White Castle, the trip takes them on one wild journey that has them encountering a mutated hillbilly (Christopher Meloni in a very against-type but hilarious role), douchebag extreme sports bullies, wild cheetahs, racist cops, hot women, demented raccoons, and the great Neil Patrick Harris (playing a very raunchy variation of himself that completely steals this movie away from everyone else momentarily).

Harold & Kumar essentially go through all sorts of hell (and weed) to get to White Castle, but the entire ordeal pays off in the end, both for them and for us. This film is what it is. It's silly, over-the-top, and moronic, but it's also genuinely funny and very entertaining.

Cho and Penn catapult themselves to modern day icon status with this new breed of mainstream stoner comedy, and the rest of the cast is fun to watch too, including a slew of cameo appearances from the likes of Jamie Kennedy, Fred Willard, and Ryan Reynolds.

Seriously though, Meloni and Harris steal this movie away with their roles. Director Danny Leiner MORE than makes up for his last abortion of a film Dude, Where's My Car, but the real talent behind this movie are writers Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg, who would go on to direct the superior sequel.

Great film.