There are films that inform, enlighten, and persuade one to take a stand. These motion pictures look to make viewers aware of activities that companies, foreign governments–even our own government have taken part in, and so these celluloid works challenge the viewpoints of some, and inspire others to get up and act (such as certain films this year).
Then, there is “”Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle””….which does not belong in this category, but does provide an entertaining hour and a half, as well as a movie with Asian-Americans in the two main roles (Korean-American and Indian-American respectively).Harold (John Cho) is a hard worker at an investment banking firm, who gets saddled with extra work from his co-workers, harassed by a local group of X-game playing punks (led by Steve Braun), and cannot muster the courage to speak to Maria (Paula Garces), his attractive neighbor who he literally dreams of being with. His bud (he he, bud) and roommate Kumar (Kal Penn), on the other hand, is an extremely bright pre-med student who prefers to use his talents for hanging out and particularly for looking for weed/pot/marijuana/whatever. Kumar goes on interviews for med programs, as exemplified but does this so his parents can continue paying his rent (plus dad is a doctor).The movie’s plot, to use the term somewhat loosely, is spurred when the title characters get a case of late-Friday night munchies–thanks in part to being under the narcotic influence–and spy a TV ad for White Castle. Kumar suggests they head to New Brunswick (New Jersey) since there is apparently one of these burger joints (hehe…joint) there, only it turns out to be another fast food place. Fortunately, one of the restaurant workers (Anthony Anderson) tells the two that there is a 24-hour White Castle down in Cherry Hill, and so Harold and Kumar are off…to White Castle.The rest of the movie has the leads going through a series of misadventures, including run-ins with animals (a raccoon and a cheetah that escaped from the zoo, respectively), continual run-ins with the above sports punks, less than positive experience with local police–including Harold getting arrested, and even meet Doogie Howser himself..Neil Patrick Harris. Kumar and Harold also bump into their Jewish neighbors from across the hall—Goldstein (David Krumholtz) and Rosenberg (Eddie Kaye ‘Finch’ Thomas)–who themselves are looking for a place called Hot Dog Heaven. Harold also tries to cope, not very well, with his feelings for fellow “”Sixteen Candles”” fan Maria. Some of the jokes work here, and some are kinda, well, a little too weird. The former include the bits with the police department in a place called Muckleberg, featuring Officer Palumbo (Sandy Jobin-Bevans)–particularly funny here are a Rutgers University professor who becomes Harold’s cell mate (Gary Anthony Williams) and the ‘extremely sketches’ depicted near the end. Also humorous are the hippie-esque Princeton University student named Brad (Dov Tiefenbach) from whom Kumar scores some stash, the drive-thru person that Anthony Anderson plays (too bad about his recent real life troubles), and the ‘diversity of burgers’ speech that Kumar gives at the climax.[pagebreak]On the flip side, there are scenes that aren’t as effective, or as funny–rather just gross. These include showing the physique, warts and all, of a creepy auto repair guy named Freakshow (Christopher Meloni) and the bathroom game that some Princeton co-eds play. Also, on a different topic, the New Jersey geography seems a little off; sure, Harold and Kumar—from around Hoboken–have a big case of the munchies and would eventually drive to Cherry Hill (we’re talking BIG appetite here), but they initially go to New Brunswick on a lark for a quick bite, and that is a good thirty miles away from where they live (for the record Cherry Hill and Hoboken are about 90-100 miles apart–White Castle must have some ‘really’ good burgers {also for the record, there is no White Castle in Cherry Hill, but that is another matter}).Geographic and driving time issues (Cherry Hill is generally more than a 45-minute drive from New Brunswick….but anyway) aside, and despite some cringe-worthy segments, “”Harold and Kumar…”” is a generally funny, and fun, flick. The real strength of the film though, other than pot and other such jokes, which you can get in any number of films, is the diversity of casting. In addition to the two main stars–and how many other films out there have Asian-American lead characters in non-stereotypical roles–this movie has characters who are African-American, Hispanic, Jewish, and just plain white, as well as other (East- and South- ) Asian Americans.Who knew that the director of “”Dude, Where’s my Car?””–a.k.a. Danny Leiner–could be so innovative, so progressive? Well, in all fairness, some of the side characters (such as Kumar’s father and some students Harold encounters at Princeton) fall into more typical categories. The protagonists, however, are just two regular guys, and John Cho’s character, while highly intelligent, is cool, fun, likes to chill out (though not as much as Kumar), and has the same concerns as any number of twenty-somethings.This is a buddy picture with Harold being the one who has it together and his roommate being the stoner–very bright, but a stoner nonetheless. “”Harold and Kumar…”” gets points for its choice of casting; though the topic of race in the film does come up in dealing with the police and the group of bullies, Harold and Kumar could be any pair of young dudes…who just happen to be trekking around searching for the elusive fast-food franchise with the royal name. The film also gets points for providing laughs–not much in the way of wit here, but just basic sit-back-and-enjoy laughs. This is helped by the many cameos, ranging from Anthony Anderson and Neil Patrick Harris, to Fred Willard (as someone interviewing Kumar for med school) and Jamie Kennedy (barely recognizable as a roadside creep that Kumar encounters. The rest of the cast does well too, particularly Tiefenbach, and also Eddie Kaye Thomas and David Krumholtz as the protagonists’ neighbors who crave hot dogs and Katie Holmes, among other things.””Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle”” get points for being entertaining and for its diverse casting. This is no way is an endorsement of all the behavior depicted in the film, so here then is an important message…Say NO to Burgers!Grade: BEM Reviewby Andrew Haas7/30/04