Harold and Kumar Gave us Hope Spoilers

Listen, I get it, you're probably scoffing at the fact that I'm claiming a stoner comedy, replete with raunchy dick and fart jokes could be considered the best movie of the 21st Century, but hear me out… Sure it didn't win any Oscars, Golden Globes, or other major film awards for that matter, but what “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” did emotionally for both Indian and Asian kids during the early 2000's eclipses any gilded offerings that a prestigious award ceremony could provide.

Up until this point, Asian and South Asian lead roles were scarce in Hollywood films. If a role was available it was usually that of a supporting, token character who's sole purpose was to help land the punchlines of unimaginative and stereotypical jokes. Even then there are still instances of these roles going to caucasian actors. Before Aziz Ansari sold his soul to Riyadh, he wrote a pretty clever episode of “Master of None” that touches upon this. “Short Circuit” anyone?

Just ‘Cause You're Hung Like a Moose Doesn’t Mean You Gotta Do Porn

When we first meet Harold and Kumar they are presented as expected. Token versions of themselves. Harold succumbs to the pressures of his douchey co-workers by agreeing to do their work because “asian guys love crunching numbers," and Kumar is attending an interview to get into med school. These expectations are short lived when Kumar halts the interview to answer a phone call from a frustrated Harold. Weekend plans in the shitter, he suggests to his friend in peril that they ease their woes with the only way they know how… By getting high as FUCK. Needless to say, he botches the interview.

With Kumar's pubes freshly trimmed, and Harold wanting to forget the awkward exchange he had with Maria, the girl he has a huge boner for, they hit that shit hard, bro. Eyes glazed, senses relaxed and stomach's rumbling, it's in this instance that Kal Penn and John Cho make the ultimate decision to go on a buddy road trip to White Castle. A journey that would catapult their Hollywood careers to that of legend status.

Let's Get Some Fucking Mountain Dew

There are definitely instances throughout the film where stereotypes regarding Indian and Asian cultures are presented. “Chinese people can't drive, all Indians work at convenience stores.” However, these “jokes” aren't written in to be celebrated. Rather, they exist to show the absurdity of the people making such silly and straight up racist allegations. Don't worry though, they get their due comeuppance.

Before deciding to embark on their adventure, Harold and Kumar are confronted by some “extreme" characters. I'm not talking about religious radicals. I'm talkin' about nu metal cranking, X game thrill seeking, fuckin' doooouchebags. The narrative's flipped and suddenly the Asian and Indian guy with their family history of immigrant struggle, have become the likeable protagonists. While the latter are simply uneducated bullies. I will admit though, I've been known to fuck with some Limp Bizkit…

This arc continues when Kumar convinces Harold to take a detour to Princeton and see Cindy Kim. Cindy has a huge crush on Harold and Kumar uses it as an opportunity to score some weed. While getting ripped off by some doofus, hippie drug dealer, Kumar encounters two English girls who proposition him for a night of weed and sex. Of course, he has to find Harold immediately. Stripping him away from Cindy Kim and what appears to be an actually sweet looking Asian Club mixer, the two find themselves running from security and hiding in a women's bathroom stall, when who should enter, but the two English girls. Harold and Kumar's chance to reverse the pain caused by hundreds of years of colonialism through a night of passionate lovemaking with the well groomed European girls, is suddenly destroyed by some bad tacos. What happens next ain't pretty. But is it elementary toilet humour or an embarrassing presentation of bodily fluids to make colonizers look foolish? …Okay, it's a stretch, but I'm fuckin' stickin' to it.

Daddy is Not Coming on Anything

Weedless again, and no closer to White Castle, things continue to devolve for our dynamic duo when Harold is bit by a racoon. Demanding he be tested for rabies, Kumar is forced to take him to the hospital where his father and brother work. They both scold Kumar for fucking up his interview and in an extreme realization of shame, Kumar apologizes. The guilt of not living up to their standards is far too shameful of a weight to bear. Wait, no…It's just an elaborate ruse to swipe their access cards and get medical marijuana.

Despite discovering that no medical marijuana exists in the hospital, Kumar manages to save a gunshot victim and procure new instructions to the Cherry Hill White Castle.

With Kumar now questioning the possibility of actually having a career in medicine, Harold begins to question if he could actually have a relationship with Maria. Despite tiny, delicious sliders being Harold and Kumar's main objective, these scenes continue to explore the idea that no matter their desires, they may not escape the demands of their culture. They're not flawed, they're simply human.

A Baby Canary and Doogie Howser M.D.

Stuck in the boonies with a flat tire, Harold and Kumar receive help from the only weirdo trolling the forgotten highways. A backwoods hillbilly named Freakshow. With pus spewing from the boils on his neck, he takes them back to his place to fix up their car. While Freakshow repairs their tire, singing sweet, angelic pslams, Harold and Kumar are once again propositioned into having sex. This time with his babe wife. After an awkward discussion of how they would accurately execute the ménage a trois, they're interrupted by Freakshow, eager to join in on the fun. He disrobes and Harold and Kumar hightail it the fuck outta there.

Back on the highway, Harold and Kumar remain lost and no closer to feeding that insatiable hunger that grows ever more intense in the pit of their stomachs, when who should appear, but a hitchhiker by the name of Neil Patrick Harris. Harris is tripping on ecstacy and has no interest in food. The only burger he desires is that of the fur variety, which leads to him stealing their car.

It is in these encounters that the film holds a candle to two types of White America that often villainize our lead characters and are thus comically villainized themselves. The underbelly with its backwards ideals and religious fanaticism, and the extreme rich, delusional of wealth and unaware of the sacrifices to obtain and maintain it. The supporting cast continues to elevate the morality of Harold and Kumar.

What Happened to Good Old American Names?

Following an egregious abuse of power at the hands of a white police officer, Harold is detained for jaywalking. He sits nervously in a jail cell with one other inmate. Harold asks the man of his crime and the inmate delivers a satirical, yet shockingly sad monologue that makes you both laugh and cry given the historical events that have proceeded this 20+ year old film. He was arrested simply for being black. Not only that, but, “he's fat, can't dance, and has two gay fathers.” A walking lightning rod for abuse in America, but he remains positive.

“There's no sense in getting all riled up when idiots give you a hard time,” he proclaims. “The Universe works itself out. Plus I have a really large penis and that keeps me happy.” It's the little (or not so little) things in life, guys. Heyooooo!

Kumar calls in a fake crime, freeing the precinct of police and busts Harold out. But wait, what's the enticing smell? He lands his eyes upon the bountiful source and the film segways into the greatest montage in cinematic history. An eternal love story between Kumar and the only woman who has his heart, Mary Jane.

Thank You, Come Again

The pacing of “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle” is amazing. It's near impossible to touch on every hilarious encounter and action packed sequence that happens, but obviously, the most important scene occurs when they finally reach their destination.

Another high speed chase, a ride on a stoned cheetah and a hang gliding adventure finally land the boys at White Castle. They place a very reasonable order, feast, and have a number of epiphanies. Kumar decides he doesn't care if he falls into the trope of becoming an Indian doctor and Harold not only stands up for himself against his co-workers, but get's the girl.

It's not a far cry to say that this film was a groundbreaking piece of cinema. It tackles taboo themes regarding race, religion and the expectations of people of colour in the Western world, through humour. It doesn't take itself too seriously but continues to stay true to it's thematic narrative.

By the way, it was nominated for an MTV and a Teen Choice Award. Take that Voting Academy.