"Harold and Kumar" two is more political and less funny
Sara Carr
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: Arts & Society
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Two guys want to reach a destination, get high and wander across the country while aimlessly trying to solve their problems, sound familiar?
In a plot too akin to the original, "Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay", is a cheap misfire that tries to gain its bearings with political satire to only fall short with recycled jokes.
In the sequel to the college-favorite, "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle," the story starts right where it left off on the same day that Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) stumbled back home after their gluttonous meal at the notorious White Castle.
Determined to get to Amsterdam to see Harold's Maria (Paula Garces), the pair head off to the airport anticipating their trip to the Mecca of marijuana.
After a scuffle with airport security, starting the film's trend of attacking America's prejudices, Kumar bumps into his ex-girlfriend Chloe. She leaves the boisterous Kumar tongue-tied after she excitedly tells him about her engagement and we clearly see that this is the beginning of the overdone plot device of the girl that got away.
Her fiancé, Colton ("Days of Our Lives" alum, Eric Winter), is a young rich kid on the fast track to the White House who claims President Bush as a close family friend.
Shaken but still ready to embrace the moment, Kumar decides to light up a joint in the bathroom on the flight to Amsterdam. His obvious lack in judgment leads to having his bong mistaken for a bomb after smoke begins to envelope the plane.
While Kumar is tackled down in the aisle, a flustered Harold tries to defend his friend only to be accused of terrorism himself.
Grounded immediately after the incident, the boys are interrogated by FBI operative Ron Fox ("Semi-Pros" Rob Corddry), whose character is an obvious pot-shot by the writers at the misguided justice of Homeland Security and its unlawful practices. After little investigation, Fox's eager agent condemns Harold and Kumar to Guantanamo Bay.
They escape with ease and within hours of arriving at the Cuban prison. But the greater challenge now lays back in the states as they must somehow gain back their good-standing with the government by seeking the help of Colton. And they must take another trek cross-country with no identification, no car and no common sense as well as the F.B.I. hot on their heels.
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