Iffy for 16+
Stoner social satire is rude, crude, and funny.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that plenty of teens will want to see this marijuana-centric sequel, which goes out of its way to push buttons -- and that the filmmakers don't really worry about when to say when. Expect constant marijuana use, strong language (including "f--k," "p---y," and many more), broadly comic violence, and sexual content -- including both male and female nudity (topless and bottomless). That said, behind all the joking and the toking, there are some nice messages about real friendship, as well as some interesting observations about the racial and ethnic profiling that's taken place since 9-11 and the dangers of excessive law enforcement in the name of safety.
- Families can talk about the movie's messages about drugs and drug use. Do you think the movie is an accurate depiction of social attitudes about marijuana? Why or why not? Does it address any of the consequences of drug use? As a comedy, is it expected to? Families can also discuss the racial and ethnic profiling that Harold and Kumar are subjected to. Do you think that happens in everyday life? How does the media undermine and/or reinforce those kinds of assumptions and stereotypes?
The good stuff
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Messages: Extensive discussion of racism, stereotypes, and government policy; a characteer literally uses the Bill of Rights as toilet paper. Some government officials are seen as idiotic, petty fascists (with counterpoint from smarter, more reasonable government officials). Harold and Kumar (and their parents) are subjected to racist insults. Harold and Kumar stumble across a Ku Klux Klan meeting. A government agent taunts ethnic and religious groups with stereotypical objects of desire (grape soda for an African-American character; a bag of small change for two Jewish characters) in an effort to get them to talk; this, however, doesn't work and is depicted as the act of an idiot. From one woman's point of view, Kumar is seen in the beard and robes of a stereotypical Islamic fundamentalist (which, by turn, implies that she believes he's a terrorist). An actor depicting the president is seen drinking and doing drugs. A fair amount of toilet humor. On the plus side, the film's cast is diverse, and Harold and Kumar have a strong friendship.
What to watch for
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Violence: Plenty, but mostly intended for comic effect. Fatal electrocution by an electric fence; characters are held at gunpoint; fistfights and scuffles (including knees to the groin); one supporting character is shot with a shotgun, twice; a deer is shot, with blood spatter and a knife blow to finish the job; a prostitute is literally branded. Mace is used.
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Sex: Topless and bottomless nudity, both rear and front, and both male and female; same-sex make-out sessions for comedic effect; prisoners are forced to provide guards with oral sex; characters visit a brothel; simulated masturbation and ejaculation; references to incest; discussion of sexual techniques and positions; characters kiss; fantasy sequence includes visions of a "threesome" between a man, a woman, and a huge anthropomorphic (and anatomically correct) bag of marijuana.
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Language: Constant, inventive vulgar language, including "f--k," "motherf---er," "s--t," "dick," "p---y," "a--holes," "douchebag," "boner," "whore," "c--k," and several racial epithets (both in dialogue and soundtrack lyrics).
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Consumerism: A few brands are mentioned -- TiVo, Nokia, Coors Light, Mustang, Zoloft.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Constant references to "getting high" and "smoking weed," with extensive on-screen marijuana use. Also lots of discussion of marijuana paraphernalia and the war on drugs. One character's marijuana is laced with cocaine; a character takes psychedelic mushrooms while driving. Characters also drink beer and hard liquor (one drinks while driving). One character disapproves of another's marijuana use to counter stress, suggesting Zoloft as an alternative.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
Five Word Review by redyeah
Funny People doing crazy stuff
5
way better than the original by kozmikvoid
I just watched Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. This movie blows the original out of the water. The gloves truly come off in this one, and no ethnic group is safe from ridicule. In the politically correct world we live in today, this movie was a breath of fresh air. It's almost as if they went out of their way to be as politically incorrect as humanly possible. I won't give any jokes away, just prepare to be shocked, and get ready to laugh. This movie is excellent, from start to finish.
3
Wait for this move to come on the DVD by MovieLVR65
I had a high expectation of this movie but when I actually saw it ....it is a big waste of time...
you can just wait until it comes out on dvd...
5
This Movie is Freakin' FUNNY by xbobalove
You know how the preview/trailor usually spoils the whole movie because they put all the funny parts in the trailer and it spoils the whole movie? Thats not the case with this movie. A lot of funny surprises just thinking about it still makes me laugh. MUCH BETTER THAN THE FIRST ONE!!!!!!!!!
5
If you liked the first one by alonghorn93
You will not be disappointed. I liked it better than the first movie.
5
Funniest Movie to Date!!! by trendsetter8705
This was the funniest movie that I have seen this year so far. I actually haven't seen the first Harold and Kumar movie yet (I know, I suck!!!) but I've heard that it was funny too.
5
mindless stoner humor by gtarbmx
no point going to this movie sober but if you're looking for a mindless laugh session and this crude type of humor is your thing this one's a must
1
Harold & Kumar Escape the Government & Racial Profiling by bbade
From the title of this I would assume, yes Kumar does something that would cause people to believe he is a terrorist. I would also believe that they would spend a better part of an hour and forty five minutes in Guantanamo Bay. Nope.
The entire scene in Guantanamo is close to three-four minutes tops. The rest of the movie is just as the first one, they have to get somewhere, but mishaps keep causing them to take one step forward two steps back.
I do like how it had more of a reason than the first, it was all to get Harold's girl back, and stop the wedding of Kumar's ex...somewhat.
Overall, this movie was made poorly, there was absolutely no need for both female and male full frontal. Now don't get me wrong I like a good pair of nude breasts and a nice shot of female genitalia, but what point to the story did that have.
I think this is a terrible movie and it should have gone straight to DVD or better yet no production company should have paid even a dollar to make this.
1
Not even close to the 1st one! by keiko_chan
I was such a big fan of the original Harold and Kumar movie, that my ex and I flew across the country to New York to have White Castle burgers and have an adventure of our own. That said, I was terribly disappointed with the sequel. I went to see it on opening night and even tho most of the audience were pre-teens, no one laughed. This movie was missing the witty dialogue, sense of adventure, gut-busting montages, and interesting cast of crazy characters that I loved in the original. Instead there were blatant, idiotic racial stereotypes & dumb jokes that maybe a 10-year-old might enjoy. The magic was lost. The only scene that reminded me of the snappy, outrageous original, was the flashback in which Kumar is an uptight nerd and Harold looked like a goth-Cure wanna be. Unfortunately, that scene was only a few minutes long and the rest was just so lame that I can't believe that it's part of the franchise. Please, SKIP IT!
2
Very Disappointed. by kenia110
I was looking forward to seeing this because I LOVED the first one. The first one gave the audience the benefit of the doubt that we were not all morons and could understand some level of subtlety. This one was very in your face, and raunchy. The first one had more allusions to raunch, this one cut through the red tape of double entendre and hit you right in the face (no pun intended) right from the get-go, when Kumar was masturbating in his bed and his ejaculation exploded all over his face.
Seriously, very low brow comedy, with situations that were too obvious to be in any way unique, and with a bad guy that was so one-dimensional that he was neither funny nor effective in drawing our ire. In short, it was horrible, although I did laugh out loud on two or three occasions.
Terrible follow-up to such a great first movie!