Movie #255 - Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
2008 - Rated R - 1 hr 47 min
Directors: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris, Rob Corddry, Jack Conley, Roger Bart, Eric Winter, Missi Pyle, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Ed Helms

I'm not sure that we needed this movie, but it's definitely on par with the first.  Some of the jokes are referenced again, but mostly we get all brand new ones.  Including a stoner Prez.

NPH is back and redefining his name... This time, Kumar's chasing a girl, Harold wants to kill him, and Rob Corddry is going to send them back to Guantanamo Bay forever.  At points, this movie actually makes fun of itself - something I always enjoy in an over-the-top comedy.  It makes it somehow okay that you're laughing at the bad jokes.

All in all, another worthy effort.  But nothing beats a White Castle burger, so I prefer the original.

Movie #254 - Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
2004 - Rated R - 1 hr 28 min
Director: Denny Leiner
Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn, Ethan Embry, Fred Willard, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Neil Patrick Harris, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, David Krumholtz, Anthony Andersen

The premise of this movie is not one that I'd normally expect to enjoy.  Two stoners get the munchies and encounter a series of strange obstacles and people on their way to the nearest White Castle. On paper, not that funny.  In reality, and with NPH in pre-HIMYM Barney effect, this is hysterical.

Some of the characters are a bit over the top (for example, Freakshow) but for the most part, this is just a fun adventure to go on.  The creators also did Dude, Where's My Car? and really seemed to learn from their first attempt.  They kept the pieces of the formula that worked and just improved on it.  A much better output.  And they even give us a nudge at the end...

"Dude, where's my car?"
"Yeah, where's his car, dude?"

Cute.

Movie #123 - American Wedding

American Wedding
Universal Pictures
2003 - Rated R - 1 hr 36 min
Director: Jesse Dylan
Starring: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Thomas Ian Nicholas, January Jones, Fred Willard

Oh yay, they're grown-ups now...at least that's what we're lead to believe by this very mature-looking movie poster.  And yet, in the first scene, where is Michelle?  Under the table 'servicing' Jim at a four-star restaurant.  And oh, who's come to give Jim a pep-talk on proposing to Michelle, but doesn't know she's under the table and can hear him?  Jim's dad.

Who writes these scenes? Does this person have a cringe filter? Is anyone else really uncomfortable watching this? I deal with it, but man... opening every movie with a Jim gimmick is tired by now.  Still, the actors manage the scene well and it becomes more funny than awkward after a bit, so it redeems itself.

In this movie, we get to see Stiffler truly ostracized, and then redeemed, so hooray for him. But where are Chris Klein and Mena Suvari? Are we even going to mention that one of Jim's best friend's has disappeared into the black abyss somewhere between freshman year and graduation? No? Okay then.

This one's not bad - it's a good blend of recycled jokes that stay true to the franchise and new material that will make you laugh, cringe, and laugh again.  That bachelor party? Dear God, people.  That Schadenfreude affect is still very much alive in this film.

And no, after this one, we don't own any other American Pie films... Stiffler's little brother doesn't get to have a spot on the Wall.

Movie #122 - American Pie 2

American Pie 2
Universal Pictures
2001 - Rated R - 1 hr 48 min
Director: J.B. Rogers
Starring: Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Shannon Elizabeth, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari, Jennifer Coolidge, Eugene Levy, Eddie Kaye Thomas

As sequels go, this one isn't so bad... mostly because the entire cast came back to do it (unlike the third movie in this trilogy).  No desserts are harmed in the making of this, but Jim's awkward sex streak rages onward and even lands him in the hospital, glued to himself.  How charming.

I think someone wrote his character to make us all feel better about ourselves. Schadenfreude is a beautiful thing.  And it kept selling movie tickets, so here we are. 

The story lines progress in a believable way in this one, with all the couples split apart because of college-related circumstances.  It's interesting to see them all regroup and try to recapture their high school days a year into college.  They do a pretty good job of it, too.  Some of the jokes are reused a bit too much, and Stiffler's little brother is a pain in the ass, but it's watchable.  You'll laugh and definitely feel better about your own awkard sex-capades after this movie.

Movie #121 - American Pie

American Pie
Universal Pictures
1999 - Rated R - 1 hr 35 min
Director: Paul Weitz
Starring: Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Alyson Hannigan, Shannon Elizabeth, Tara Reid, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy, Mena Suvari, Jennifer Coolidge

Iconic film of the 90s/00s? This is probably in the running.  It has hot girls, teen sex, comedy, fart jokes, and Stiffler.  So yeah... it's up there.  It also has one of the most notable lines in Gen-Y filmography: "No longer will our penises remain flaccid and unused!" As well as sparking a term that's still sticking with us - the MILF.

That aside, Jason Biggs is adorable, Eugene Levy is awkward in the way only he can manage, Mena Suvari is slightly less annoying than she was in American Beauty, and Tara Reid wasn't a crazy bitch yet.  Also, there's a LOT of young actors with three names in this movie... check out that cast list. Weird, huh?

So it is what it is.  There's pie humping, underage drinking, and jokes at a band geek's expense.  Also, there's now an irritatingly huge film franchise thanks to this little movie (honestly, why are they still making these? And why is Eugene Levy still in them?) But none of them are as clever and fun as the original.

Have your pie and eat it too!
(Sorry, I can't help myself sometimes...)