No one is safe in the latest romp for Harold and Kumar, the sequel to the mildly successful 2004 original Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Escape from Guantanamo Bay is one day later in this stoner comedy saga, and the two bumbling stars attempt to make a trip to Amsterdam, when this all goes obviously downhill or there wouldn’t be much a movie.
Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) are instantly likable morons, ending up imprisoned in the infamous Guantanamo Bay after being mistaken for terrorists on a flight. Rob Corddry is hysterical as the racially idiotic agent assigned to their case, pulling out every stereotype he can think of to track down these two “terrorists” once they find a way out of prison.
Misadventure seems to follow Harold and Kumar wherever they go, and it always seems to be lowbrow. Then again, that’s what makes fans come back. No one goes in expecting Shakesperian comedy, and that’s as far away from what you’ll get here as possible. The home video version goes all out to earn its unrated moniker, putting as much unneeded nudity on screen as possible… and flaunting with it hysterically with zooms and pans to ensure, uh, full exposure.
There isn’t a pot joke in the world not used here, and if racial remarks are offensive, skip right past the likely authentic KKK party sequence. Southerners are called out for sibling breeding (and producing some form of unidentified Cyclops spawn in the process), and oh, supporters of George Bush? Yeah, you should maintain a clear 25-foot distance from this disc.
Most importantly, Escape from Guantanamo Bay is funny, even laugh out loud funny at multiple spots. This is undoubtedly zany, absurdly stupid humor (Neil Patrick Harris and a unicorn… that’s all that can be said), but it works. Unless you’re looking to expand your mind, this is light comedic fare worthy of your entertainment dollar. 
While not mind blowing material, the film does present itself well in HD. While some of the darker, nighttime scenes falter a bit, this transfer is routinely sharp. Rich detail is noticeable throughout. Colors are natural throughout, and contrast is always at a peak level. The black levels truly shine here. It’s not eye-popping, but serviceable enough given the nature of the source.
![Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (Extreme Unrated) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51rKLYZ5ZiL._SL120_.jpg)
Article comments
1 - Derek Fleek
I liked Escape's Theatrical Version. I didn't like the Unrated Version though. Great review.