TODAY'S MOVIE REVIEW: Laff-packed stoner epic, my eye!


So I got to review a movie that Internet buzz boards were (mistakenly, I think) declaring the next great stoner comedy: "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle." Some thoughts that were cut for space:

(1) If the movie succeeds at all, it's thanks to the Atlas-like efforts of its super-charming stars. John Cho of "Better Luck Tomorrow" fame is particularly charmalicious in the tongue-tied moments where he tries to break the ice with his hot neighbor (Paula Garcés).




(2) Am I the only person who thinks the very Indian Zak Penn was mildly de-ethnicized for the movie poster ? Poster and reference pix are displayed above. Is it just me, or does the poster make this Hindu hottie look Italian? Maybe it's just that screwy thing he's doing with his mouth.

(3) "Doogie Howser"'s Neil Patrick Harris -- better-known these days as an in-demand musical-theater star (he did a decent take on one of my favorite Sondheim mini-musicals, "Evening Primrose," though of course Doogie can't hold a candle to Mandy Patinkin) -- fearlessly parodies himself, playing a coke-sozzled has-been named "Neil Patrick Harris." If only the movie were able to keep up with him; the flat execution of every gag and set piece robs "Harold and Kumar" of its comic ambition as efficiently as a good toke.


Posted: Fri - July 30, 2004 at 05:11 PM        

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