Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay

As the idea is no longer fresh and the plot has basically the same structure, it doesn't quite match the original. But the sequel delivers enough new developments to keep it interesting.

The film is so even-handed and so diligent in its urge to offend that after a while I felt myself go numb.

Amid the dick jokes, drug taking and gratuitous nudity, the film also serves as a salient reminder about what actually ranks as subversive comedy.

While not without its funny moments, this labored sequel ups the nudity and gross-out factor while diminishing the sweetness and evident camaraderie of its appealing leads.

When Harold and Kumar travel through a completely Bush-ified American South and then head to Amsterdam, the film's message couldn't be clearer.

It's hard to dislike this film, even though it's so patently lame. Cho and Pen have great chemistry. And they're so amiable and endearing on screen.

What, really, is so progressive about jockish games of yeah-dude-I-just-went-there - especially as played by guys whose views of women are stuck in high school gym class?

My main objection boils down to this: if the filmmakers set up an anything-goes policy of outraging all notions of human dignity, they're obligated to live up to it without respecting age, race, creed, class, nationality -- or gender.