Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle

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By Todd Karella
July 30, 2004

Movie-Pix Best Guess:

Original Story Synopsis:

It's Friday night, and two mixed-up friends Harold (John Cho) & Kumar (Kal Penn) go out for the night looking for White Castle burgers.

They find themselves in a series of wild and crazy events.

Another movie by Dude Where's My Car? director Danny Leiner.

If that doesn't give you an idea of what this film will be like then there's not much else that can be said.

John Cho has been great in the American Pie movies and as the crazy friend Chau in the TV series Off Centre. You can expect him to play a similar character here as well.

Expect this film to be extremely stupid, yet extremely fun. And if Dude was any lesson, avoid watching the previews or you'll end up seeing the best parts beforehand.

Rated R

~Not just another stoner flick~

Movie-Pix Hit or Miss

Best Guess Results:

Surprisingly it is Kal Penn who is the wild and crazy one in this film and it's John Cho who plays the more straight-laced character.

While not quite as insane and off the wall as Dude, it certainly has it's own memorable moments.

There are also a lot more sexual references and profanity than you might expect.

If you like this particular genre then you won't be disappointed as it delivers with a lot of original and refreshing comedy that's never predictable.

While some of this may sound a little familiar, there is nothing in this film that even remotely seems recycled.
   It's Friday night and hard-working Harold is trying to get some work done that his fellow employees dumped on him at the last moment. Kumar wants nothing to do with hard work and convinces his friend to hold off work and smoke some pot.
   After a while the two start to get the munchies, but are tired of their usual choices. Almost as an answer to their prayers a White Castle commercial appears on their television.
   And once you get the idea of those small tasty burgers into a stoner's head there's nothing else they can do but give in to their primal urges.

What happens when two best friends get the munchies? They go to White Castle of course. Didn't you read the title of the movie?
   From Danny Leiner the director of Dude Where's My Car? comes another zany movie about two friends on a journey through insanity.
   In this film it's about straight-laced Harold (John Cho) who works in a large brokerage firm, and his slacker friend Kumar (Kal Penn) who's a medical genius but is doing everything in his power not to follow in his father's footsteps.
   While Harold is concerned with excelling at his job, getting up the nerve to speak to the girl he likes, and just generally getting by in life Kumar is the exact opposite.
   Kumar's interested in scoring his next joint, goofing off, and pretending to go to medical school interviews just so his father will keep supporting his decadent lifestyle.

Hopping into Harold's car they head off to the famous burger stand. But there's one problem: It's been over four years since they've been to one and can't remember exactly where it is.
Even though they ask for directions, they easily get distracted by any shiny object that crosses their path. Or in Kumar's mind, by anything they can smoke.
Not only are they their own worst enemy, but they end up getting chased by some skater punks,

campus security, and even the cops.
There are also a few gross moments that has become typical in this type of film. One is a puss-oozing sore and the other a couple of Princeton coeds that just finished some spicy Mexican food.
A few big name stars also make cameos, with the best

performance coming from Neil Patrick Harris playing himself hitchhiking alongside of the road. When the pair decides to pick him up, not only is he drugged out of his mind, but he's in the mood to party with any woman he can find.
With all of these distractions and crazy situations popping up the audience knows that the two will somehow make it to their destination and accomplish their mission.
Putting aside all the comic aspects of the movie it also has one other positive effect. It shows that all people are alike and it doesn't matter that the two main characters are of Korean and Indian descent.

There are a few racial comments thrown at them, but the film doesn't get bogged down in the issue but instead makes a fun and exciting movie for everyone to see.

Kumar-Kal Penn & Harold-John Cho

The results of improper potty training

Dude, it's Doogie Howser!!

Kareoke time!!?

Would you mind picking up the soap for me?

Why won't he look at my breasts?