| Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle | |
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| Directed by | Danny Leiner |
| Produced by | Greg Shapiro |
| Written by | Jon Hurwitz Hayden Schlossberg |
| Starring | John Cho Kal Penn Neil Patrick Harris Paula Garcés |
| Music by | David Kitay |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
| Release date(s) | July 30, 2004 |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | United States Canada |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $9 million |
| Gross revenue | $23,936,908 |
| Followed by | Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay |
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (released in some countries as Harold & Kumar Get the Munchies) is a 2004 stoner comedy film. The plot revolves around the two pot-smoking title characters, who decide to go to the fast food franchise White Castle after smoking cannabis, but end up on a series of comical misadventures when they cannot find the restaurant.
The film was written by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, and directed by Danny Leiner. Starring John Cho (Harold) and Kal Penn (Kumar), it also features appearances by Fred Willard, Paula Garcés, Anthony Anderson, Dan Bochart, Ethan Embry, Jamie Kennedy, Bobby Lee, Christopher Meloni, Ryan Reynolds, Shaun Majumder, David Krumholtz, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Malin Akerman and Neil Patrick Harris (in a parody of himself).
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Entry level investment banker Harold Lee is taken advantage of by two coworkers, Billy Carver (Ethan Embry) and J.D. (Robert Tinkler), who pour extra work on him so they can enjoy a long weekend. Kumar Patel, Harold's roommate, interviews for medical school admission, although he admits he only does so to please his father, who supports him financially. He is summarily rejected.
Harold is constantly harassed by a group of "extreme sports punks" and unable to express his feelings for his neighbor Maria (Paula Garcés). That evening, after smoking marijuana, Harold and Kumar grow hungry, see a television advertisement for White Castle, and decide to get hamburgers. They discover that the White Castle they planned to visit in New Brunswick was replaced by the inferior "Burger Shack", but are told that there is a White Castle in Cherry Hill.
Kumar begins to "come down" and suggests stopping off at Princeton University to buy some more weed. While smoking a joint on a staircase, a campus security guard (Albert Howell) chases them. They lose the bag of weed Kumar procured, but escape and cause their dealer Bradley (Dov Tiefenbach) to be arrested.
Resuming their journey, Kumar pulls over so he can urinate. He leaves the door open, allowing a raccoon to sneak in. It bites Harold, who believes he has caught rabies and convinces Kumar to take him to the nearest hospital, where Kumar's father (Errol Sitahal) and brother (Shaun Majumder) work. Kumar steals ID badges from his father and brother to obtain medical marijuana, but is mistaken for his brother and performs surgery on a patient, who tells them how to reach White Castle. They are also informed that the hospital does not possess Medical marijuana.
On the road, Kumar spots Maria. He decides to get Maria's attention so Harold can talk to her, but Harold ducks down and pushes the gas pedal, causing the car to spin out of control. The car lands in a ditch, but they are rescued by a God-loving, boil-faced tow-truck driver nicknamed "Freakshow" (Christopher Meloni). He takes them to his house to repair their car and informs them they can make themselves at home and have sex with his wife (Malin Akerman). They have a discussion in which Harold and Kumar agree to receive oral sex from her. Harold begins fondling her breasts when Freakshow comes in. Though he initially forgets his earlier offer, he strips and suggests a foursome, causing the duo to flee to their car.
Harold and Kumar pick up Neil Patrick Harris, who is high on Ecstasy and is hitchhiking after being thrown from a car. They head into a convenience store to receive directions from the store's cashier (Rick Sood). The Extreme Sports Punks show up, damaging the store and harassing the cashier. As Harold and Kumar leave the store, Harris drives away in Harold's car. Harold inadvertently punches a racist police officer and is jailed.
Harold sees Bradley the "business hippie"; Bradley's large bag of weed has been confiscated and his mother takes him home. Harold meets a black professor named Tarik (Gary Anthony Williams), who claims he was arrested by the same officer for being black. After faking a 911 call, Kumar frees Harold. They take Bradley's bag and flee into the nearby woods.
Harold and Kumar encounter an escaped cheetah and ride it after smoking weed with it. Harold is hit by a branch and knocked unconscious. He awakens to find his laptop destroyed. Also, the cheetah took them in the wrong direction and they are lost.
Finding their way out of the woods, Harold and Kumar find a hot dog joint and see their neighbors Goldstein and Rosenberg eating hot dogs and looking happy. Harold decides that he craves that feeling of satisfaction that comes from getting what you want. After another encounter with the sports punks, Harold and Kumar steal their Ford Bronco. A police officer spots the truck and begins pursuing them. They temporarily elude the officer by driving through the woods but are trapped at the edge of a cliff.
Harold is ready to give up, but Kumar makes a speech about their journey and spots the White Castle they have been searching for right below them. They take a hang glider from the truck and use it to reach their destination. Having arrived at White Castle, they place their orders only to discover they have no money due to the police officer stealing Harold's money and Kumar spending his on cannabis. Harris shows up, apologizes for what he did, pays for their meal, returns Harold's car and gives Harold $200 for "love stains made in the back seat".
Kumar realizes that he has always wanted to be a doctor, but was afraid of being one of those "nerdy Indian guys turned doctor." Harold meets his co-workers, who have been partying, and berates them. At their apartment building they encounter Maria in the hallway, waiting for the elevator. Kumar makes Harold ride downstairs with her. In the elevator Harold professes his love for Maria and the two kiss. Unfortunately, she is leaving for a trip to Amsterdam. Kumar convinces Harold to go with him on the next plane to Amsterdam, reminding him that marijuana has been legalized in the Netherlands.
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $5,480,378 in 2135 theatres in the United States and Canada. In total it had a worldwide gross of $23,936,908.[1]
The film was positively received by critics, with a 73% rating at Rotten Tomatoes based on 143 reviews. The consensus is "The likable leads and subversion of racial stereotypes elevate Harold and Kumar above the typical stoner comedy."[2][3]
The film was released in a theatrical and Unrated edition DVD on January 4, 2005 and was re-released again on April 1, 2008 in an "Extreme Unrated" edition remastered in time for the new sequel, which opened in theatres worldwide April 25, 2008. The film was released on Blu-Ray disc on July 29, 2008 along with the DVD release of Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay.[citation needed]
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is the 2008 sequel to White Castle. The movie revolves around Harold and Kumar trying to get to Amsterdam to find Maria, but when Kumar is mistaken for a terrorist on the plane, they are sent to Guantanamo Bay.
Both Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have announced plans to write and direct a third Harold and Kumar movie, with Greg Shapiro returning as producer, and Kal Penn and John Cho expected to return in their title roles.[4][5] However, this was announced before Penn left his acting career to take a job at the White House.
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| Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle | |
|---|---|
| File:Harold & Kumar Go to White | |
| Directed by | Danny Leiner |
| Produced by | Greg Shapiro |
| Written by |
Jon Hurwitz Hayden Schlossberg |
| Starring |
John Cho Kal Penn Neil Patrick Harris David Krumholtz Eddie Kaye Thomas Paula Garcés |
| Music by | David Kitay |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
| Release date(s) | July 30, 2004 |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $9 million |
| Gross revenue | $23,936,908 |
| Followed by | Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay |
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (released in some countries as Harold & Kumar Get the Munchies) is a 2004 stoner film, the first film in the Harold & Kumar series. The film is directed by Danny Leiner and written by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. The story follows Harold Lee and Kumar Patel as they decide to go to the fast food chain White Castle after smoking cannabis, but end up on a series of comical misadventures when they cannot find the restaurant. The film stars John Cho and Kal Penn as Harold Lee and Kumar Patel. The film also stars Fred Willard, Paula Garcés, Anthony Anderson, Dan Bochart, Ethan Embry, Jamie Kennedy, Bobby Lee, Christopher Meloni, Ryan Reynolds, Shaun Majumder, David Krumholtz, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Malin Åkerman and Neil Patrick Harris.
Contents |
Entry level investment royal banker Harold Lee (John Cho) is taken advantage of by coworkers Billy Carver (Ethan Embry) and J.D. (Robert Tinkler), who give him extra work so they can enjoy a long weekend. Kumar Patel (Kal Penn), Harold's roommate, interviews for medical school admission; despite being an ideal candidate, he prefers getting high and enjoying himself. He attends the interview to please his father and is rejected when he answers his cell phone and talks about getting high with Harold in front of the dean.
Harold is constantly harassed by "extreme sports punks" and unable to express his feelings for his neighbor Maria (Paula Garcés). That evening, after smoking marijuana, Harold and Kumar grow hungry, notice a television advertisement for White Castle, and decide to get hamburgers. They discover that the White Castle they planned to visit in New Brunswick was replaced by the inferior "Burger Shack", but are told there is a White Castle in Cherry Hill.
Kumar begins to "come down" and suggests stopping at Princeton University to buy weed. While Kumar negotiates to buy marijuana from a hippie named Bradley (Dov Tiefenbach), two attractive female students approach the dealer. Kumar flirts with them and they give him their dorm room number. Harold and Kumar smoke a joint in a stairwell but are discovered by a campus security guard (Albert Howell). While hiding in the women' bathroom, they overhear the girls Kumar met earlier complaining that they have indigestion and are going to have "taco shits". They enter stalls on either side of Harold and Kumar and play a game they call "Battleshits", which involves them farting to sink each other's ships. Harold and Kumar hastily leave the bathroom, losing the bag of weed and causing Bradley to be arrested.
Resuming their journey, Kumar pulls over to urinate. He leaves the door open, allowing a raccoon to sneak in. It bites Harold, who believes he has caught rabies and convinces Kumar to take him to the nearest hospital, where Kumar's father (Errol Sitahal) and brother (Shaun Majumder) work. Kumar steals ID badges from his father and brother to obtain medical marijuana, but is mistaken for his brother and performs surgery on a gunshot victim. The patient tells them how to reach White Castle. They learn that the hospital does not possess medical marijuana.
On the road, Kumar spots Maria. He decides to get her attention so Harold can talk to her, but Harold ducks down and pushes the gas pedal, causing the car to spin out of control. The car lands in a ditch, but they are rescued by Randy (Christopher Meloni), a God-loving, boil-faced tow-truck driver (nicknamed "Freakshow"). He takes them to his house to repair their car and tells them they can make themselves at home and have sex with his wife (Malin Åkerman). Harold and Kumar talk with Freakshow's wife and agree to receive oral sex from her. Harold begins fondling her breasts when Freakshow comes in. After he suggests a foursome Harold and Kumar flee to their car.
While driving off, Kumar notices a hitchhiker on the side of the road, so he decides to stop for him. Harold insists that they not do so, but Kumar let's the stranger in, revealing to be none other than Neil Patrick Harris (Neil Patrick Harris), who is high on Ecstasy and hitchhiking after being thrown from a car. They head into a convenience store to get directions. The Extreme Sports Punks arrive, damaging the store and harassing the cashier. As Harold and Kumar leave, Harris drives away in Harold's car. Harold inadvertently punches a racist police officer and is arrested.
In jail Harold sees Bradley; Bradley's weed is confiscated and his mother takes him home. Harold meets a black professor named Tarik (Gary Anthony Williams), who claims he was arrested by the same officer for being black. After faking a 911 call, Kumar frees Harold. They take Bradley's bag and flee into the woods.
Harold and Kumar encounter an escaped cheetah and ride it after smoking weed with it. Harold is hit by a branch and knocked unconscious. He awakens to find his laptop destroyed. Finding their way out of the woods, Harold and Kumar find a hot dog joint and see their neighbors Goldstein and Rosenberg eating hot dogs and looking happy. Harold decides that he wants the feeling of satisfaction that comes from getting what you want. After another encounter with the sports punks, Harold and Kumar steal their Ford Bronco. A police officer spots the truck and pursues them. They briefly elude the officer but are trapped at the edge of a cliff.
Harold is ready to give up, but Kumar makes a speech about their journey and spots the White Castle they have been searching for below them. They take a hang glider from the truck and use it to reach their destination. They place their orders only to discover they have no money. Harris shows up, apologizes for what he did, pays for their meal, returns Harold's car and gives Harold $200 for "love stains made in the back seat".
Kumar realizes he wants to be a doctor, but is afraid of conforming to the stereotype of Indians becoming doctors. Harold encounters his co-workers and berates them for leaving their work to him. At their apartment building they encounter Maria in the hallway, waiting for the elevator. Harold professes his love for her and they kiss. Unfortunately, she is leaving to visit Amsterdam. Kumar convinces Harold to go with him to Amsterdam, reminding him that marijuana is legal in the Netherlands.
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $5,480,378 in 2135 theatres in the United States and Canada. In total it had a worldwide gross of $23,936,908.[1]
The film was positively received by critics, with a 73% rating at Rotten Tomatoes based on 143 reviews. The consensus is "The likable leads and subversion of racial stereotypes elevate Harold and Kumar above the typical stoner comedy."[2][3]
The film was released on VHS and in a theatrical and Unrated edition DVD on January 4, 2005 and was re-released again on April 1, 2008 in an "Extreme Unrated" edition remastered in time for the new sequel, which opened in theatres worldwide April 25, 2008. The film was released on Blu-Ray disc on July 29, 2008 along with the DVD release of Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.[citation needed]
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is the 2008 sequel to White Castle. The movie revolves around Harold and Kumar trying to get to Amsterdam to find Maria, but when Kumar is mistaken for a terrorist on the plane, they are sent to Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
Both Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have announced plans to write and direct a third Harold and Kumar movie, with Greg Shapiro returning as producer, and Kal Penn and John Cho expected to return in their title roles.[4][5]
Kal Penn has left his White House job to star in the movie A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas 3D.[citation needed]
| Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle |
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Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is a 2004 film about buttoned up Harold and laid back Kumar who are stoners who want to get food at a White Castle Burgers joint, which becomes a perilous journey full of strange obstacles.
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[Harold and Kumar just decided to go to White Castle at a Burger Shack drive-thru]
[Harold stares at Kumar in shock and disbelief]
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