Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

As a fan of Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, I really didn't think they could recapture the magic of the first film in the sequel. Sequels are, so often, horrible disappointments. But the World Premiere of Harold & Kumar Escape from Gauntanamo Bay last night as Austin's SXSW Film Festival was simply awesome. The audience loved America's favorite slackers on their next adventure as their trip to Amsterdam goes incredibly wrong.

Whereas the first film challenged racism and stereotyping, this one continued the theme into issues of racial profiling and War on Terror paranoia. These multicultural slackers are becoming American every-men that we can all relate to. While there are times when Harold & Kumar's antics are just plain silly, they are also incredible human characters who are struggling with real challenges around parents, romance, friendship, the law, and race. Harold & Kumar make us laugh while they also challenge our perceptions and expectations of social and political reality.

Cho and Penn were wonderful reprising their original roles. Neal Patrick Harris was back again as a strange variant of himself. Rod Corddry provides a wonderful addition to the cast as the completely paranoid government agent. Overall, the film is perhaps a tad below the original, but a tad below excellent is still a wonderful comic romp that all fans of the original and many new fans should enjoy. Unlike the first film which gained a cult following on DVD, Harold and Kumar Escape from Guatanamo Bay will undoubtedly be a huge hit in the theaters. The audience here in Austin absolutely loved the two lovable anti-heroes. I look forward to many more adventures from Harold and Kumar.

this sequel to the first Harold and Kumar has some funny moments,but i didn't think it was anywhere near as funny as the first.the good news is that the laughs are full belly laughs,that will leave you crying.the bad news:there aren't very many of them.however,i did find that the story was better and more fleshed out.Rob Corddry is hysterical in his scenes.well most of them anyway.one thing i didn't care for is that there's a scenes which shifts the tone away fro the comedy.i found this inexplicable and also unnecessary.this movie is at least as offensive as the first one,probably more so.if the first one offended you,you'll want to avoid this one.for me,Harold and Kumar 2 is a 6/10

Though sequels usually have a hard time measuring up to the first movie, I was expecting at least a few laughs from 'Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay'. I ended up wincing and cringing more than anything. This is among the worst movies of the year that I have seen. Sure I was expecting crudeness and vulgarity but this one reaches a new level and it is more of those things than funny. Add to that, the none-gross or pornographic scenes were plain boring. 'Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay' takes off where 'Harold and Kumar Go To White Palace' end. John Cho and Kal Penn reprise their roles and pretty much walk the same line but I found them less funnier here. Though one good thing that comes out of the film is that it implies how ignorant Americans have become towards other cultures since 9/11 and how they are quick to judge based on stereotype. The only sequences that I found amusing were the airport check-in scene and the sequence in the airbus (with the suspecting old lady). However, this is too bad of a film for me to talk much more about.

First, let me say I was a big fan of the first Harold and Kumar film.

This sequel has none of the witty elements of the first film. The movie seemed like a weak student film with novice acting, poor direction, and no continuity (forget about how bad the writing was for this movie - here is a tip to the writers; that thing about smoking weed to get creativity, it is a myth so you might want to put the bong down next time). If this was the writer directors first film, it would surely be their last because it was so bad. Luckily, I didn't pay to see this junk and even so I feel like I should ask for money back! Don't say I didn't warn you......

First let me say this movie was hilarious. Definitely a stoner movie, and as funny as the first. Actually, it may be funnier. Like most sequels they don't usually top the first one, and in most cases rehash the same old jokes. The story beings hours after their "White Castle" gorging ("Prepare to gorge yourself"),and after mistaking a "bong" for a "bomb", on their way to Amsterdam, Harold & Kumar are sent to Guantanmo Bay, and a chain reaction of foolishness and tomfoolery ensues. Lots of cameo's in this one, so you movie lovers keep an eye out. See if you can spot Freakshow from "White Castle" in a completely reversed role. If you're a fan of the first one, you will absolutely love "Guantanamo Bay." Go Roldy!! Go Kumi!!