Studio 360 has a special on film and terror (Morris, Abu Ghraib, Film Club). And, of course, Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.

Like Kumar Barve in the radio segment linked above, talking about the first film, I’m very glad to see the name Kumar in a movie marquee. Also, in the same segment, Linta Varghese deals with the historical issue. And, in an email message, the ever-sophisticated Heesok Chang lays down the line thusly:

What I would say here is that the actor who played Kumar was so much better than Harold that I felt — as an East Asian — sort of short-changed.

Having said that, I enjoyed this film very much. And yes, I liked that Asians were protagonists in the film, and that they played against filmic/cultural stereotype (the burden of the film, I suppose, so mission accomplished).

Might I add that it’s possible to view this film as an Asian without identifying with either of the characters? It’s bleak to think that the future lies in representation. I identified most of all with Neal Patrick Harris, because that was a character bursting his rep with a memorable joie de vivre, and not answering to any racial decorum. An Asian lapsed Doogie Howser, MD: that’s what I’m talking about.

harold-and-kumar