three and a half stars

Reviewed by Daniel E. Jennis

Great philosophers say that to laugh at something is to completely eviscerate its meaning, to destroy its ability to be taken seriously. “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay”, the highly anticipated sequel to 2004’s “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”, completely embodies this principle. This film is an acerbic and mean-spirited comedy about governmental injustice and bigotry. The humor is barbed, bitter, and delivers on its intentions. This new “Harold and Kumar” chronicle is far from your average stoner romp.

The sequel begins where the original picture left off. Harold (John Cho) and his best friend Kumar (Kal Penn) are off to Amsterdam in search of Maria (Paula Garcés), a stunningly attractive woman whom Harold is courting. While on the plane, Kumar is mistaken for a terrorist, and the two of them are shipped off to Guantanamo. After about an hour of incarceration, our friends manage to escape and head back to America, hoping to clear their identities before the Feds put them back behind bars.

This film is different from its predecessor in a number of significant ways. Most importantly, the original “Harold and Kumar” tells a story of two smart but self-deprecating friends who find the courage to confront their problems and stand up for themselves. This was a movie that spoke to a generation of young adults who lived unfulfilling lives. The strong emphasis on marijuana culture was meant to attract audiences who used drugs as some sort of outlet.

In the sequel, gone are the themes of insecurity and dissatisfaction. The clearest intention of this film is to ridicule and critique a system of government that assumes guilt before innocence and feeds off of damaging cultural stereotypes. This is an ambitious goal for a film with a lot of physical comedy and nudity.

Nevertheless, most of the satirical elements really hit home because the film is courageous in its political critique, and as direct as possible in choosing its targets. For example, the two leads have an extended conversation with President Bush in which they discuss the incompetence of his administration. Bolstered by witty dialogue and fine comedic delivery, it’s moments like these that make you appreciate the intelligence of this film.

That aside, the narrative is way too disjointed, and the political tint of the film betrays the character of the original. “White Castle” proved that comedies can be simultaneously hilarious and humanly engaging. Unfortunately, abandoning that dynamic severs much of the film’s appeal. “Escape from Guantanamo Bay” is still a worthy sequel, even though its intentions are often misguided.