It takes some creative writing to get past “being high is funny.” You need far more than that to make a film work, and luckily for low budget stoner comedy Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, they got more and then some. At its heart are two main characters who can offer the entertainment value needed to sustain a movie with absolutely no plot other than get from point A to point B.
John Cho was probably best know for being one of the “MILF” guys from American Pie, and Kal Penn had a funny bit in Van Wilder, but then Harold and Kumar happened. Even with a meager $18 million box office, the film gained a strong following and has lived on purely due to those two actors.
That’s the only way a movie about two stoned geniuses (really) who crave White Castle can work. The movie doesn’t play off of the expected racial stereotypes, but lets the audience gain a decent glimpse of who the characters are before the completely ridiculous scenario begins. Penn plays a gifted medical student (ironic given his recent role in the TV series House), and Cho is excellent at - and dedicated to - his desk job.
Their adventure is one of complete absurdities, including cheetah riding, hang gliding, frat parties, creepy tow truck drivers, and Doogie Howser. Suspension of disbelief is a must, but the script is zany from the start. A number of subtle moments are purely based on the performance of the leads, including a musical performance in a car that is a classic moment.
While it’s hard to take any of this as intellectually stimulating comedy, it’s hard not to become part of this one night escapade with these two potheads. They’re instantly likeable, carrying a charisma and charm you wouldn’t expect. Even the intended gross out humor manages to draw laughs, simply because you’re involved. 
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