Last time, Harold Lee and Kumar Patel just wanted some White Castle sliders. This time they have to escape from a U.S. military prison.
The pot-smoking duo returns with a load of new adventures in directors John Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg's "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay." This latest addition brings back its tongue-in-cheek look at racial stereotypes along with a smorgasbord of gross-out humor and fart jokes. Although the film starts off slowly, its over-the-top storyline and skilled performances creates an entertaining experience.
The story picks up just as the last one leaves off with Harold (played by John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) preparing to embark on a trip to Amsterdam in order to pay a surprise visit to Harold's new love interest, Maria (played by Paula Garcés). But during the flight, Kumar has a hankering to get high using his smokeless bong. When an older woman mistakes it for a weapon, all hell breaks loose and the two are sentenced to Guantanamo Bay.
"Guantanamo Bay" opens lethargically, giving moviegoers a recap of "White Castle's" ending and setting up the premise for what's to come. While there are moments to chuckle and grimace at – seminal fluid and poop jokes arrive in the first five minutes – the film doesn't pick up until after the two board their plane to Amsterdam.
The film avoids the pitfall of other comedic sequels whose writers fill their scripts with rehashed jokes. While it still has parts that are pulled from "White Castle," such as the similarity between the parachute and the hang-glider scenes, the majority of the humor is new. One of the best moments is a flashback to Kumar's college days and a distinctly different Harold comes walking in.
But the heart of the movie resides in its actors. Cho and Penn masterfully play off each other, creating an odd couple-esque chemistry. But the scene stealer is Rob Corddry, who plays the Homeland Security agent chasing the two friends. His performance as the overzealous and blatantly ignorant officer pushes the boundaries from bad guy to cartoonish super villain.
"Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" isn't for everyone. Its grotesque humor and coarse language require a bit of a strong stomach. But beyond the scatological and sexual jokes, the film is a smart, satirical look at racial stereotypes in the U.S.
