Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle Blu-ray Review
“Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle” is still one of the best comedy films of the 2000’s.
Written by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, 2004’s “Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle” finds the title characters at a crossroads in their life. Harold is an unhappy pushover Junior Analyst who can’t seem to express his feelings to a girl he has a crush on (Maria). Kumar is being pressured to go to Med School, but is unsure if that’s what he wants. He’d rather get stoned and have a good time. After Harold gets home from work bummed that he has more work to do on the weekend, he gets high with Kumar. The two see an ad for White Castle hamburgers and set out on a quest to get some. Unfortunately for the buddies, they can’t seem to reach their destination due to a wild series of events involving a raccoon, a car wreck, a jailbreak, a closed down White Castle, and more.
Directed by Danny Leiner, “Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle” could have easily been a dumb fast food tie-in comedy that no one would remember. 21 years later, the film has become a cult classic that went on to spawn a franchise. What makes ‘White Castle’ such a special comedy is that it’s not just one thing. It’s a stoner comedy that pays tribute to Cheech and Chong, it’s a road trip movie, it’s a buddy comedy about friendship, it’s one of the great movies about the power of food, it’s a story about adult responsibilities, and it’s also a smart comedy that addresses racial stereotypes. Sure, it’s a raunchy and weird pre-smart phone and pre-legalized marijuana (in many states) comedy, but that’s part of its charm. It’s the type of hilarious original comedy movie you just don’t see anymore.
The cast is really what makes the movie. John Cho and Kal Penn are in peak form as Harold and Kumar. The two are entirely convincing as friends. They may argue and feud, but they’re buds. Obviously, the film is quite notable for resurrecting the career of Neil Patrick Harris who plays a wildly exaggerated version of himself. Throughout the entire franchise, he steals every scene he is in. The film is filled with cameos by the likes of Ryan Reynolds, Anthony Anderson, Malin Akerman and Jamie Kennedy, but none is more memorable than Christopher Meloni as the disfigured hillbilly Freakshow. Meloni completely disappears into the bizarre role. A special shoutout goes to David Krumholtz and Eddie Kaye Thomas as friends Goldstein and Rosenberg. They have small parts, but are amusing supporting characters.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.78:1 1080p. How does it look? This is an early Blu-ray re-release that really needs a 4K. While the transfer is decent, it’s definitely showing its age.
Audio Track: 7.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? This is a satisfactory 7.1 track.
Extras:
* Great interactive menus.
* 3 commentary tracks. One by Danny Leiner, John Cho and Kal Penn, one extreme track by Danny Bouchard and one by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg
* “Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle” trailer and Red Band trailer.
* “Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay” sneak peek and Red Band trailer.
* “All Too Much” music video.
* “Cast And Crew Clips”- Interviews with Danny Leiner, Brooke D’Orsay and Kate Kelton, Steve Braun, Dave Krumholtz and Eddie Kaye Thomas, Jon Hurtwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, Paula Garces, Fred Willard and Neil Patrick Harris. Also included is a car interview with Bobby Lee, John Cho and Kal Penn.
* 8 deleted/alternate scenes and outtakes.
* “The Art of The Fart” covers the sound design for the bathroom scene.
* “A Trip To The Land Of Burgers” (about the trippy burger scene) and “Whistle Castle Craver’s Hall of Fame” (about the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Columbus)
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