8.10.2004
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
Why is it so hard to make a funny movie? Why do audiences enjoy the worst comedies? I'll never understand why Friends was so damn popular and how "Bruce Almighty" managed to make an ungodly (no pun intended) amount of money. Sure, it was a decent flick, but not worth the praise or money it got, in my opinion.
I expected Anchorman to be this year's funniest movie. The previews were hilarious, advance reviews were glowing, and Will Ferrell can do no wrong. Even Nick over at CHUD.com called it the funniest movie of 2004. What a major disappointment it was. I'm not saying it was a horrible movie, but it sure didn't come anywhere close to my expectations.
Ah yes, expectations. That must be the problem. So it was with great pleasure that I enjoyed the film "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" this past weekend. To be honest, I didn't expect much. In fact, I was planning on seeing another movie, which ended up being sold out. And so I reluctantly decided to check out the dumb stoner comedy from the guy who directed "Dude, Where's My Car?" I'm sad to admit that I did see "Dude" in theaters, and I'm even more sad to say that I did not ask for my money back afterwards.
"Harold and Kumar" relies a lot on racial stereotypes. The main characters, an Asian-American and Indian-American, fit into their respective stereotypes in some respects, but for the most part are just average Americans. Harold is a number-cruncher at a desk job, and Kumar is a drifter whose father expects him to become a doctor. The two roommates decide to enjoy some weed after a long week, and amidst their high-ness, they decide they want to get some White Castle burgers.
But who cares? The journey unfolds with a series of hilarious situations. This is not to say that the film is anything new or that some of the jokes aren't things we haven't seen before (most are, actually), but for some reason it all works. Even if you're sober.
And so I suppose it was that I didn't expect much from "Harold and Kumar" that it took me by surprise so much. I'd go as far as to say that it's the funniest movie I've seen in the last two years.
And hey, any movie where Doogie Howser, M.D. snorts a line of coke off a stripper's ass out of the sun roof of a moving car is a-okay with me.
Why is it so hard to make a funny movie? Why do audiences enjoy the worst comedies? I'll never understand why Friends was so damn popular and how "Bruce Almighty" managed to make an ungodly (no pun intended) amount of money. Sure, it was a decent flick, but not worth the praise or money it got, in my opinion.
I expected Anchorman to be this year's funniest movie. The previews were hilarious, advance reviews were glowing, and Will Ferrell can do no wrong. Even Nick over at CHUD.com called it the funniest movie of 2004. What a major disappointment it was. I'm not saying it was a horrible movie, but it sure didn't come anywhere close to my expectations.
Ah yes, expectations. That must be the problem. So it was with great pleasure that I enjoyed the film "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" this past weekend. To be honest, I didn't expect much. In fact, I was planning on seeing another movie, which ended up being sold out. And so I reluctantly decided to check out the dumb stoner comedy from the guy who directed "Dude, Where's My Car?" I'm sad to admit that I did see "Dude" in theaters, and I'm even more sad to say that I did not ask for my money back afterwards.
"Harold and Kumar" relies a lot on racial stereotypes. The main characters, an Asian-American and Indian-American, fit into their respective stereotypes in some respects, but for the most part are just average Americans. Harold is a number-cruncher at a desk job, and Kumar is a drifter whose father expects him to become a doctor. The two roommates decide to enjoy some weed after a long week, and amidst their high-ness, they decide they want to get some White Castle burgers.
But who cares? The journey unfolds with a series of hilarious situations. This is not to say that the film is anything new or that some of the jokes aren't things we haven't seen before (most are, actually), but for some reason it all works. Even if you're sober.
And so I suppose it was that I didn't expect much from "Harold and Kumar" that it took me by surprise so much. I'd go as far as to say that it's the funniest movie I've seen in the last two years.
And hey, any movie where Doogie Howser, M.D. snorts a line of coke off a stripper's ass out of the sun roof of a moving car is a-okay with me.
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2003 - 2005 Reverend Hughes |
