Harold And Kumar Get The Munchies (DVD)

In Brief: Stoner pals, Harold and Kumar, are craving food. But not just any food. No delivery menu, nor supermarket treat will satisfy them today. They crave the beauty and precision of a White Castle burger, and it's going to be a hell of a trip to get one. Dumb, yes, but enjoyably so.



In Full: There's a theory spreading amongst decidedly cynical critics that you'll only like Harold and Kumar if you were a fan of Dude, Where's My Car? While it's true that the two films have more than a little in common, where Dude is outright stupid Harold and Kumar succeeds in being clever. For a start, Ashton Kutcher has been kept as far away from this as possible but more importantly, these two stoner pals are actually intelligent and relatable human beings.

I am, I hasten to add, in no way applauding nor admiring these characters' decision to smoke dope, nor insinuating that the only funny stoner is an intelligent stoner. It's just that Harold and Kumar are, well, they're alright by me. They know what they want in life and they're going to pursue it, even if there are some bumps on the way.

Indeed, these characters' relentless pursuit of the one food that'll satisfy them could be a metaphor for their lives as a whole - though hardship often finds them, they'll never stop looking for the light.

It is, indeed, true that I've just accused (and I think accused is the right word) a teen stoner comedy of containing a metaphor of any kind, but for all it's immaturity and toilet humour, Harold and Kumar is a clever beast. A film that'll provide a little on-the-spot humour without sacrificing its characters or its story to do so. There is a goal in Harold and Kumar and we'll be taken on a ride to its ultimate fulfilment and be allowed to enjoy the distractions on the way.

Much of this is down to the fine work of John Cho and Kal Pen (lovingly referred to as "That Asian dude from American Pie" and "That Indian dude from Van Wilder" on the poster) who are so brilliantly funny, each in their own unique ways, and make Harold and Kumar worth watching from start to finish. Again and again.

The film plays to all of the expected bit-pieces of the genre but manages to squeeze a laugh out of every one. There's so much here we've seen before and yet, somehow, it's as fresh as it was when we first saw it.

Harold and Kumar will never become a teen classic, to be remembered lovingly as the film that shaped your teenage years (or perhaps I'm just too old to see it) but one thing's for sure: it's very funny and wonderfully dumb.

Two stoner friends go on an epic road trip with a difference in search of their ultimate goal - the perfect food - White Castle Burgers! On the way, they encounter some crazy characters - a police station full of racists, a deformed possible psychopath and his nymphomaniac wife, Neil Patrick Harris (abusing his Doogie Howser persona!)- but in the end reach an epiphany that makes their lives so much more richer.

An ideal post-pub comedy film - one you will watch again and again.

This DVD features Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and is presented in 1.85:1 Anamorphic widescreen. Bonus features include two commentaries, deleted scenes and outtakes.