BuzzSugar

Have the President Crank Call Your Friends, the Geeky Way

GeekSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:00:14 PDT

I usually don't get sucked into viral marketing schemes for movies, but I have to hand it to the creators of Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay for coming up with a funny gimmick. You can have a George W. Bush impersonator send a personalized message to your friend's cell phone by visiting the movie's website and selecting a goofy message. The service is free, but oh-so-funny. "Umm CitizenSugar, this is Dubya. You know, the Emperor of America."

Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay: They Should Have Just Gone to Amsterdam

Molly — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:30:30 PDT

The great thing about Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle is that there were no expectations. The news of its secret hilarity spread quietly through whispers and surprised admissions - You know what I saw last night OnDemand that was oddly incredible? It was a time when a Neil Patrick Harris cameo was delightfully random since no one had seen much of him since Doogie Howser and the simple fact of two guys on a quest for greasy sliders was plot enough. Unfortunately, Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay doesn't have that luxury. The expectations are high (ha, get it?), and sadly, the movie doesn't live up them. Or maybe I'm just getting old.

The thing is, I'm not the only one getting older. Escape From Guantanamo Bay takes place just hours after their trip to White Castle, but somehow the fact that Kal Penn and John Cho are now both in their 30s and look it adds a kind of sad angle to the whole thing that didn't exist when they were fresh-faced 20 somethings who just loved smoking pot. Elsewhere in their acting careers, they're both heart-throbby and respectable in their own rights, but somehow they seem to be too old to still be playing this game. That's a bit nitpicky, though, and really the least of the movie's problems. To see the rest of my thoughts just

read more. For me, the moment the movie went awry was when they ended up at Guantanamo Bay instead of making it to Amsterdam and getting into a whole heap of trouble there. While I appreciate the notion of a noble quest, it's far too convoluted this time, and Amsterdam is just an afterthought. Speaking of bringing Gitmo into it, it's a perfect example of where this movie fails. Time and time again they go for the most offensive lines - racial, religious, sexual, bathroom-related (lots of that) - for cheap laughs rather than a) actually making relevant political satire and comedy or b) making any jokes that haven't been done a million times before. That isn't to say there aren't good moments. Neil Patrick Harris once again knocks it out of the park, even though at this point we know that real-life NPH isn't going for the biggest boobs at the whorehouse (not even joking: that's in the movie). Plus, at the heart of the movie there's a sentimental angle - a love story, a mushy poem, perhaps a sign that Harold and Kumar are growing up after all. Maybe this is one of those movies that will get better with viewing No. 2, and I'm sure there are plenty of inebriated people of all ages who will think it's a riot. Seriously, the frat boy sitting next to me was rolling in the aisles. In the meantime though, here's to hoping Harold and Kumar think long and hard about their plan before taking another trip. To see the trailer and video clips from Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, check out movies.ivillage.com. Photos courtesy of New Line Cinema

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 08:00:00 PDT

Tell me: Do celebrity causes inspire you to do good deeds?
My Fall Movie Previews continued this week when I rounded up this fall's period pieces, fantasy adventure flicks and tearjerkers.
There was TV news aplenty this week: Kristen Bell will guest star on "Heroes" this fall while Janeane Garafolo joins the cast of "24." I also found out some intriguing casting news regarding "Lost" and "America's Next Top Model."
In another installment of my "Getting Into" series, I give you the rundown on all you need to know about girl rockers Sleater Kinney.
What's worse: The possibility of a sequel to Ferris Bueller's Day Off, or the fact that Ryan Seacrest is hosting the Emmys?
Have you taken the online test to determine how bionic you are? I'm warning you, it's addictive.
So many handsome men in trailers this week. Check out Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell in Cassandra's Dream, and then watch the preview for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck. Finally, for another couple of cute guys, there's the teaser trailer for Harold and Kumar 2!
If you could recast the West Side Story movie with new actors, who would you pick?
Check out the promo for the season premiere of "Ugly Betty" featuring Mika's song "Betty Girl." Also new this week: Season 1 of "Ugly Betty" on DVD!

Source

What to Rent: New DVDs This Week

Shannon Vestal — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST

Breaking Dawn Part 1

Twilight's star-crossed lovers Edward and Bella (Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart) tie the knot in this installment, but their idyllic honeymoon is interrupted when they discover that vampires can, in fact, impregnate humans. Bella is willing to do anything to protect the life of her baby, Edward will do anything to save Bella, and Jacob tries to keep his wolfpack at bay. The movie goes quickly from cheesily romantic to surprisingly graphic, but the film is very loyal to the book. DVD extras include a six-part making-of documentary, a wedding video, a Jacob featurette, and a commentary track with the director.

25%

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

Harold and Kumar (John Cho and Kal Penn) reunite for this holiday-themed sequel, the third part in their drug-fueled comedy series. This time, the guys have grown apart (Harold is now a husband in the suburbs while Kumar is a slacker in the city), but Christmas Eve hijinks force them to work together and grow close again. The boys - and Neil Patrick Harris - are as raunchy as ever, but this installment is as funny as the original, and festive to boot. DVD extras include deleted scenes.

69%

See one more new release after the jump.

Buzz Time Machine: When Harold and Kumar Met NPH

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:00:19 PDT

In this weekend's A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas, we revisit the boys in their grown-up lives, as they make their way through another night of drug-infused hijinks. Just like in the previous two movies, Neil Patrick Harris makes an unforgettable appearance and causes some trouble. But it's funny to think that in the first film, NPH hadn't yet made his mark as Barney on How I Met Your Mother or relaunched himself back into the spotlight. I like to think that his cameo in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is what revitalized his career, and it's still fun to watch the (incredibly raunchy) clip now.

Check out the NSFW clip after the jump.

First Look at A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas: Into It or Over It?

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:27:28 PDT

Ready or not, your holiday season is going to include a big helping of Harold & Kumar - in 3D, no less. John Cho and Kal Penn are returning for their third film together (the first being the cult hit Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), and this time they're trying to save Christmas. I was ready to write off A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas when Escape From Guantanamo Bay left me feeling listless, but that was until I saw the first photo from the new film. I don't know why, but the kid in me couldn't help feeling giddy about seeing Penn and Cho all dressed up as toy soldiers (with help from series staple Neil Patrick Harris).

Though there's never been anything wholesome about these two, I'm thinking a Christmas movie has to have a little more heart than a layover in Gitmo. The premise sounds like it's in the spirit of Christmas Vacation (translation: Santa Claus is coming to town and everything keeps going wrong), so I might just have to give it a chance. What's your take on the new film?

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas: A Highly Recommended Holiday Treat

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:48:34 PDT

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is, in a word, silly. But here's why I loved it: the ridiculous hijnks made me laugh out loud, the 3D actually makes the movie much better, and it packs just the right amount of humor and holiday cheer into the metaphorical pipe.

It's been seven years since Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn's) fateful trip to White Castle, and they've grown up quite a bit since then. Well, at least Harold has - now married and settled down in the New Jersey suburbs, Harold has left his days getting high with Kumar behind in favor of making the big bucks on Wall Street and trying to start a family. Aimless Kumar, on the other hand, is hitting his bong harder than ever now that girlfriend Vanessa has dumped him. The former BFFs are brought back together by a mysterious package for Harold that shows up on Kumar's door. When its contents - a giant joint - sets fire to the prized Christmas tree grown by Harold's overbearing father-in-law, the incident ignites a reunion for the guys as they set out to replace the Frasier Fir.

To see why I loved taking another ride with Harold & Kumar, just

read more. The formula is basic: it's a night of horrible incident after horrible incident that would make you want to crawl under your seat if it wasn't so entertaining. As Harold and Kumar are consistently thwarted from their plan of securing a tree, they encounter gangsters, a strangely endearing waffle-making robot, and of course - Neil Patrick Harris. Peppered throughout are nods to other holiday films and the Harold & Kumar franchise itself. Devotees of the franchise will appreciate the winks, but the movie also stands on its own just fine. 3D movies are a dime a dozen these days, which is why I especially appreciated the fact that Harold and Kumar plays up the technology at every turn. We're talking smoke rings in your face, egg yolk in your face, and the like, but the execution enhances the experience like no movie since Avatar. The humor here is raunchy, over-the-top, and often offensive, but it also happens to be side-splittingly funny. If you've seen the first two Harold & Kumar movies, then you know what comes with the territory, so it's best to just let the jokes leap out of the screen and come right at ya. Harold and Kumar's rift is easily the most believable aspect of the plot, and their wounded egos and jabs at each other give the film heart (an important piece that was missing from Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay). What ultimately keeps A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas on track is the message that's buried under all the drugs and nudity: tis the season to forgive and forget. And if you're anything like Harold & Kumar - to get high with a little help from your friends.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Trailer: Tis the Season to Shoot Santa in the Face

Becky Kirsch — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:36:35 PDT

It might feel wrong to watch a trailer for a Christmas movie in August, but A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas certainly isn't your standard warm-and-fuzzy holiday fare. Sure, there's snow and Santa, and, um, Jesus, but there's also scantily clad ladies, beer pong, and, of course, some pot smoking. In the third installment of Harold and Kumar's adventures, the guys meet up after a few years of estrangement and set out on a quest to replace Harold's father-in-law's perfect Christmas tree. You'd never be able to garner that from this trailer though, which is a mishmash of random jokes, some Christmas references, and a solid ad for the 3D. Oh, and there's some Claymation in there, too.

If the actual film has more plot than what we see here, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas could make a nice addition to atypical holiday movies like Bad Santa. If not, Neil Patrick Harris does a song-and-dance number, so there's that. Check it out when you

Movie Sneak Peek: Tower Heist and A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

BuzzSugar — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:36:46 PDT

This weekend at the movies, Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy team up to rob a Wall Street mogul in Tower Heist, while Kal Penn and John Cho set out to find the perfect Christmas tree in A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas. Each film presents decidedly different adventures, but these photos from each might help you decide which one you want to embark on at the theater this weekend.

Box Office: Puss in Boots Keeps Its Claws in First Place

BuzzSugar — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:05:00 PST

New comedy releases weren't enough to knock Puss in Boots out of the first spot at the box office - the animated comedy starring Antonio Banderas's voice as a sword-wielding cat dominated the weekend with $33 million. The Ben Stiller-led Tower Heist came in second with $25.1 million, while a fellow new comedy release, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, followed in third place with $13.1 million. The horror sequel Paranormal Activity 3 landed in the No. 4 spot with $8.5 million. Justin Timberlake's sci-fi drama In Time rounded out the top five with $7.7 million.

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures