Friday nights are terrible for television. Usually I’m out teaching people how to make telescopes, but last night I was just not in the mood. In fact, I was in a tremendously grumpy mood. It turned out to be 9pm, and I just didn’t want to be in the house anymore. A quick check of the movie listings showed that The Manchurian Candidate was out, but I didn’t feel like anything that serious or intense.

Enter Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle.

I must admit: in the two years or so I spent in Princeton, I never once went to the White Castle in New Brunswick, although I remember passing it dozens of times. I feel now like I obviously missed something.

Oh well, enough about me: back to the movie. It employs classic thematic elements. Friends Harold (a young junior investment banker) and Kumar (a genius would-be doctor except for the fact that he’s essentially lazy) go on a quest for the perfect food: a six pack of sliders from White Castle. Adventure and hilarity ensues: enjoy.

And enjoy I did. If you take yourself too seriously, you’ll probably find this movie a bit over the top. Drug use (in the form of marijuana) is a common theme (indeed, motivation) in the film, so if you are sensitive to that, perhaps you might consider a different film. But perhaps you should consider that Neil Patrick Harris (TV’s Doogie Houser M.D.) plays himself in the film, and obviously relishes in the raunchy humor. It also plays off a number of common stereotypes, but in a generally light hearted way, and mocks stereotypes even while perpetuating certain ones for comic effect.

It’s raunchy. It’s silly. And it’s damned funny. I couldn’t decide if it was funnier than Dodgeball, but it’s darned close, and well worth your time.