Loos, take it for what it is

No, I do not think this film has any message other than the endorsement of weed. I think that all of the racial jokes and political elements were meant to be humorous, rather than make a valid political point. The film is about what all Harold and Kumar films are about, and that is marijuana. I think stoner films are attractive to our age group, particularly males, because they are light, silly, and familiar. They turn the average experiences of a stoner into an unrealistic adventure. These films say, “Hey, while you and your vapid unattractive friends get high, you could have an adventure consisting of absurdly dangerous situations and highly artificial and attractive women will fulfill your sexual fantasies.” I think these films make said males, whose lives revolve around porn and weed, feel justified in their trite lifestyles. There is nothing wrong with being a stoner and there is nothing wrong with making stoner films, but a film like Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay should not be taken for more than what it is, a stoner film. I think we have been looking at elements of the film and turning them into these grandiose messages. For example, with most of the racial jokes, we assume the film is attempting to comment on the injustice of racial profiling, but then something will happen that retracts the ostensible comment. When Kumar is stopped by airport security and rants about racial profiling, the audience thinks this is perhaps a statement about racial profiling. Then when Kumar takes his bong out in the airplane bathroom, he blows off is previous statements against racial profiling as the only way to get past security. Also, when the Homeland Security guy throws the money in front of the Jews, we again think this is perhaps a statement on racial stereotypes. Then at the end of the scene, we see the Jewish guys picking up the money. The film frequently seems to be making a political statement, but then retracts the statement for the sake of humor. Ergo, it says nothing substantial. I think the only reason the film even brings up racial stereotyping in the first place is for humor. This happens in comedies all the time. For example, in Anchorman, Veronic Corningstone is not respected as a journalist because she is a women, but the film is not trying to make some big political statement about gender issues. As is the case with Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay, these political elements are merely meant to further the plot and provide humor. I do not think we should uphold this film for making any valid political statement, that is, other than the endorsement of weed.