In Hollywood, films have long been criticised for promoting behaviours and lifestyles that could be detrimental to their target audience. Some of those films happen to be quite entertaining, like in in the case of Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, 2004 comedy directed by Danny Leiner.
The film originated as a script written by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, inspired by their high school experiences in Randolph, New Jersey. The protagonists, played by John Cho and Kal Penn, are Harold Lee, a young Korean American bank analyst, and Kumar Patel, an Indian American medical student. Apart from sharing an apartment, they also share a taste for marijuana and White Castle hamburgers. One fateful Friday night, they are struck by an intense craving for White Castle hamburgers and embark on a journey to the nearest White Castle restaurant, during which they experience a series of misadventures and encounter many bizarre characters.
Produced by New Line Cinema, the film benefited from the new Hollywood trend of producing adult-oriented comedies unburdened by the limitations of PG-13, as seen in films like American Pie (in which John Cho played small but memorable role). While the film does contain some raunchy humour (most notably in protagonists’ praising certain details of Katie Holmes anatomy displayed in The Gift) and references to sex, the more "problematic" aspect of the film is Harold and Kumar's open and unapologetic use of marijuana for recreational purposes. This reflects the broader cultural trends among late Gen Xers and early Millennials and has had political consequences in the form of the successful marijuana legalisation movement.
What makes Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle truly groundbreaking is its portrayal of two Asian American protagonists who are portrayed as ordinary Americans, not ethnic stereotypes. Despite encountering racists during their journey, Harold and Kumar remain unapologetically themselves, smashing invisible racial barriers in the process.
The film's simple plot allows for a number of comical episodes, although not all gags work. However, the general impression is mostly positive, with much of the credit going to John Cho and Kal Penn for their great performances. The rest of the cast, with the exception of Neil Patrick Harris who obviously enjoys playing outrageously unhinged fictional version of himself, is overshadowed by the duo's chemistry and charisma.
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle was a great hit, spawning a sequel in the form of Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay in 2008, followed by A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas in 2011.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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