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 #173 - Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
2008 - TV
Director: Joss Whedon
Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day

The best thing to emerge from that unpleasant writer's strike, Dr. Horrible technically aired online...so I guess I don't have to include it.  But I love it so much that I have to.  Come on, it's NPH. And he sings. What's not to love?

This is short and sweet, a tale of rivalry as only Whedon can tell it, and filled with enough songs to tide you over until you can watch the Buffy musical again.  Dr. Horrible vs. Captain Hammer is now one of the great battles between good and evil, or evil and less evil. More evil? Wait... is there a good guy? 

But really, it's all about a girl.  And a Freeze Ray.  But mostly, the girl.

So watch this one when you're snowed in this winter.  It's light and fun (mostly) and has some really catchy tunes.  NPH is brilliant, as usual, and you'll be quoting this long after you switch off the DVD player.