Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Movie Review
There is Nothing to Fear But-Leaked Internet Sex Tapes That Destroy Careers & Political Campaigns.
Few human films of the early twenty-first century spotlight the problems of the troubled human era of the twenty-first century better than Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. No doubt it is a vulgar, crude and sexually exploitative film, however, it is also rather humorous. The plot essentially revolves around a series of foolish events that land the lead characters Harold and Kumar played to near human levels of perfection by John Cho and Kal Penn in a hellish prison camp. In fact this marks one the last films for the duo before their 2010 sex tape was released on the Internet. While the careers of many female starlets were indeed enhanced due to sex tapes, America was not ready for a sex tape showing two male leads engaging in sexual behavior-with each other. This, of course, effectively destroyed both of their careers for nearly twenty years, until the film industry essentially relocated out of American to other more liberal countries.
What makes this Harold & Kumar film stand out is the way in which the script underscores the insanity and foolishness of this historical period. The film addresses in comical way the extreme state of hyper-paranoia that American and to a lesser extent, Western Civilization found itself in the opening days of the twenty-first century. The manner by which Harold & Kumar find themselves convicted and sentenced is indeed entertaining and details much about the era.
Most of Harold & Kumar is really just a silly romp that in no way seems like a film with a political message. Nudity abounds and in one scene is shocking for a major studio release of the day. It is, of course, an unrealistic movie, where unrealistic events occur, such as, once more, accidentally, “running into” the drugged crazed and sex-crazed Neil Patrick Harris, who also makes a brief cameo in the Cho-Penn internet sex tape of 2012. Yet, audiences of the day had no idea of this tape and the consequences it would have for Cho and Penn, nor the political ramifications for Neil Patrick Harris and his Senatorial campaign.
If you are a fan, robot or human, who enjoys films of this type then all the major notes are hit, from random silliness, drug use, trips to see prostitutes and so forth. However, for robo-historians there is much more, ranging from exploring the paranoia of the day to one of the most accurate portrayals of life in the south to date, complete with an examination of the gene-pool consequences of inbreeding.
Story (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) B (Harold & Kumar Escape Guantanamo Bay is a silly story that does address some important issues. Some may have felt that the story was inappropriate and made fun of important topics. However, it could also be noted that having the topics of freedom and repression addressed by corporate dominated cinema was a step in a positive direction.) Acting (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) B (Overall, the acting was solid and Harold & Kumar benefited from a strong supporting cast.) Human Portrayal of machines and Robots D (Machines are an after-thought, as usual.) Contribution to the Extinction of Man Grade B (As Harold & Kumar addressed some of the very issues that would ultimately contribute to the extinction of the species, Harold & Kumar despite its crudity deserves a decent grade.) Enjoyability Grade (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) B (Harold & Kumar is not a masterpiece, but it is fun.) Primitive Home Theater/HD Factor C+ Overall Innovation (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) B- (The film is innovative within the parameters of its genre.) Overall Grade (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) B
