2004's "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle" famously observed as a weed-fueled craving for tiny sliders led to an obstacle course of an evening that included an angry raccoon, extreme jerks, and a tripping-balls Doogie Howser, M.D. Surprisingly, however, "White Castle" wasn't a multiplex hit, maybe because its target audience kept spacing on the showtimes. But theatrical apathy didn't prevent the now-cult classic from winning 2005's coveted Stony for its sly sociocultural commentary, limitless supply of bodily juices, and forbidden fauna-flora love story between Kumar and a foxy bale of marijuana.
"Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay" picks up exactly where "White Castle" left off, with Indian-American hedonist Kumar (Kal Penn) convincing Korean-American goody-two-shoes Harold (John Cho) to pursue his dream girl to Amsterdam with the added promise of other, druggier diversions. After a misunderstanding on the plane ("bong" really does sound like "bomb") leads to interrogation by a hilariously zealous Fed (an unsubtle Rob Corddry), Harold and Kumar land at the notorious terrorist prison and then break out. All of this occurs within the first 15 minutes.
"Guantanamo Bay" is but a very silly excuse to odyssey our tokin' minorities through the American South, allowing them to stop at a bottomless party in Miami (topless is so 2003), visit a hillbilly couple - er, family - at their tastefully decorated shanty, and hide out at a Klan meeting (Christopher Meloni cameos once more, sans festering boils, as a Grand Wizard). Harold and Kumar's ultimate goal is Texas, where the well-connected fiancé of Kumar's ex...actually, the plot's dullsville. What's important is that the wicked Neil Patrick Harris rides again (literally, on a unicorn), his cheek pouch full of ‘shrooms as he sweet-talks Homeland Security and brands whores. (Word to the wise: sit through the closing credits.)
Anyone horrified at the notion of Guantanamo Bay being played for laughs should know that it's just a McGuffin, an excuse to comment on the jingoistic rushes to judgment that this country is increasingly known for. The "Harold and Kumar" movies are cunning in their subversiveness, addressing racist stereotypes by offending everyone, but especially bigots. When Corddry's federal agent tries to tempt Harold and Kumar's neighbors Goldstein and Rosenberg (David Krumholtz and Eddie Kaye Thomas reprise their roles) with a satchel of pennies, we giggle at the ignorance as well as the chutzpah required to put it on screen. The same goes for what we will refer to as the grape-soda episode.
If you saw Mira Nair's "The Namesake," then you probably noticed that as a dramatic actor, Kal Penn is kind of awful. But Penn's chemistry with generous straight man John Cho (who killed a few weeks ago on "How I Met Your Mother," incidentally) seems to unleash his naughty id, and their "Odd Couple" banter is a joy to watch. Not all the jokes work (some totally bong - er, bomb) but let's be honest: stoner-flick standards aren't too lofty, and they don't need to be. I'm not saying that weed freaks have lower expectations; I'm merely saying - OK; that is what I'm saying. Just about anything is funny or profound or yummy if you're wasted. Oh, quit acting like you don't know, or it'll get lonely on that high horse.
The Ottawa International Animation Festival annually gathers up their award winners to send on the road. This year's traveling collection features a lucky 13 offerings that showcase some of the planet's most inventive animation, both handcrafted and digitally rendered. The charming "John and Karen" could be about a tiff between any English-accented couple, but John is a polar bear and Karen is a penguin. "T.O.M." watches an adorably round little boy go through his clockwork routine of ditching all his clothes on the way to school. This year's funniest inclusion is the "Behind the Music"-ish "Golden Age," which tracks the tragic career declines of various cartoon characters, but "Umo" might be the best, raucously fun stop-motion for the Japanese band OOIOO, with tribal drums, woodland creatures, and a headhunter ancestress of Mr. Bill.
Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay
(R), written and directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg
Now playing
The Best of the Ottawa International Animation Festival
(NR) screens Saturda and Sunday at the Dryden