Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
Release Date:
July 30, 2004
Movie of the Day for Saturday, May 29, 2004
See other Movies of the Day
On the Big Board |
Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
27/55 |
Reagen Sulewski |
Uneven (could have done without the grossout jokes) but sidesplitting at times. It's Dude, Where's My Car? blended with Office Space's corporate frustration. |
35/92 |
David Mumpower |
Neil Patrick Harris makes this movie. |
35/126 |
Kim Hollis |
La-aa-aaa-ap Dance! |
35/48 |
Les Winan |
Mildly amusing. |
117/133 |
Dan Krovich |
Just not funny |
Wayne and Garth. Bill and Ted. Jay and Silent Bob. Stifler and…the rest of the American Pie guys. Over the years, there have been a number of outstanding young characters to grace the theatrical screen with their excellent adventures (guitar riff!). Continuing that proud tradition and expanding it for a 21st century consciousness is Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, which, like Dude, Where's My Car? before it has its entire plot laid out in the title.
The Dude, Where's My Car? comparison is no accident, either. Director Danny Leiner, who has also directed episodes of such exceptional television shows as Everwood, The Tick, Freaks and Geeks, Gilmore Girls, and Action, was the guy behind the camera for Dude and is also at the helm of Harold and Kumar.
The film is already looking like a lot of fun. It centers around two 20-something underdogs who really, really, really like White Castle hamburgers. Korean investment banker Harold and Indian-American medical school candidate Kumar are roommates and stoners. Their epic journey begins as they spend a Friday evening traveling around the state of New Jersey in a search for the White Castle burgers they so desperately desire to satisfy their cravings. What follows is a mind-blowing road trip that might just change their lives.
The roles of Harold and Kumar will be played by some "Hey, it's that guy!" kind of actors. Harold will be portrayed by John Cho, who gave a fine supporting turn in Better Luck Tomorrow but is probably even more recognizable as one of the two MILF! guys from the American Pie series. Kal Penn takes on the role of Kumar, and while I personally know him best as one of the "Beer Bad" boys from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, he's also been in such stuff as Love Don't Cost a Thing, Malibu's Most Wanted and National Lampoon's Van Wilder.
Also along for the ride will be some more familiar faces in cameo roles, including the ubiquitous Anthony Anderson, Neil Patrick Harris, Jamie Kennedy, Ryan "Van Wilder" Reynolds, American Pie's Eddie Kay Thomas, and the always-hilarious Fred Willard. Sounds like a recipe for lots of goofy fun. (Kim Hollis/BOP)
Vital statistics for Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle |
Main Cast |
John Cho, Kal Penn, Ethan Embry |
Supporting Cast |
Anthony Anderson, Luis Guzman, Neil Patrick Harris, Jamie Kennedy, Ryan Reynolds, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Fred Willard, Steve Braun, Brooke D'Orsay |
Director |
Danny Leiner |
Screenwriter |
Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg |
Distributor |
New Line Cinema |
Rating |
R |
Running Time |
87 minutes |
Screen Count |
2,135 |
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Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture |
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Comparison films for Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle |
Title |
Date |
Opening |
Adjusted Opening |
Screens |
PSA |
Adj PSA |
Total BO |
Adjusted Total |
Mult |
American Pie 2 |
8/10/01 | 45.12 |
48.15 |
3063 |
14729.00 |
15120.0 |
145.10 |
154.86 |
3.22 |
American Wedding |
8/1/03 | 33.37 |
33.37 |
3172 |
10520.00 |
10520.0 |
104.35 |
104.35 |
3.13 |
American Pie |
7/9/99 | 18.71 |
22.29 |
2507 |
7463.00 |
8520.7 |
101.74 |
121.24 |
5.44 |
Dude, Where's My Car? |
12/15/00 | 13.85 |
15.49 |
2087 |
6634.00 |
7138.6 |
46.72 |
52.26 |
3.37 |
Malibu's Most Wanted |
4/18/03 | 12.62 |
12.62 |
2503 |
5041.00 |
5041.0 |
34.31 |
34.31 |
2.72 |
National Lampoon's Van Wilder |
4/5/02 | 7.30 |
7.58 |
2022 |
3612.00 |
3612.0 |
21.01 |
21.84 |
2.88 |
Better Luck Tomorrow |
4/25/03 | 1.03 |
1.03 |
380 |
2714.00 |
2714.0 |
3.80 |
3.80 |
2.55 |
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