“You think this is just about the burgers huh? Let me tell you it’s about far more than that. Our parents came to this country escaping persecution, poverty and hunger. Hunger, Harold. They were very, very hungry. They wanted to live in a land of equals. A land filled with hamburger stands. And not just one type of hamburger, ok, hundreds of types — of different sizes, condiments … That land was America, Harold. America. This is about achieving what our parents set out for us. Achieving the pursuit of happiness. This night is about the American Dream.”
That’s one of my favorite lines in any movie. It’s so good that it’s hard to believe it comes from one of the greatest stoner movies of our time, Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle.
Stoner movies are often seen as the lowest of brow; the bottom of the barrel. And they are — that’s why we love them. The stupid jokes that revolve around getting high are really about so much more. At least in the good movies.
Harold and Kumar deals with social issues, but it is not the central theme of the movie. It does not define these two as individuals. What defines them is their dreams, their goals and their love of the ganj. The fact the two lead characters are not white — while addressed — does not define who the characters are.
Let me put it this way. When I was 10 years old, my dad showed me the classic album Big Bambu — one of the greatest legacies of Cheech and Chong.
They were the first, and still probably are the most well known figures of “stoner comedy.” But think about it — they were two of the first mainstream comedy acts in the non-white demographic at the time. Their first movie, Up in Smoke, came out in 1978 — the same year as Animal House. It also made $44 million in 1978. No small feat. This was the same year that Jaws, Grease, Deer Hunter and Superman came out. All of those feature all white leads and often all-white casts.
Up in Smoke is one of the few movies, if not only movie from that time, to feature non-white actors in the lead roles while maintaining mainstream success without drawing attention to this fact.
Movies like Crash or Gran Torino are social issues movies. They draw attention to a problem by talking about it as a problem. In my opinion, this furthers the idea that people are different. I admit to being heavily influenced the South Park episode “Cartman’s Silly Hate Crime 2000” and the comedy of Dave Chappelle. Which reminds me of another classic stoner comedy, Half Baked. While not a mainstream success (making only $17 million at the box office) it is a great example of this idea within the context of this genre. It also went on to greater success and cult fame status in home video sales.
Weed can be a great equalizer — across my dad’s generation to ours, and from Eugene to India. Many people smoke weed and when it comes down to it, don’t the things we all love define us more than the things that make us different?
Want more weed? Here are other Emerald stories about the green.
Why a weed issue?
Let’s clear the smoke an introduction to the Emerald’s weed issue
What do you people actually think about pot?
Getting high:
The effects of marijuana on your brain
Eugene baker Sharon Cohen makes strides in hemp food market
More than smoke, edibles offer a different marijuana experience
What is your preferred method of flight?
Dank or Schwag: Do G13, Matanuska Thunder Fuck or Peter Danklage disappoint?
High activities:
Altered states transform ordinary games into memorable highs
Tichenor: You think ‘Harold and Kumar’ is about weed? Think again.
Playlist: Songs to get high to
This is what happens when you listen to Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ while stoned
The legal stuff:
Is it time for Oregon to legalize marijuana?
Getting caught with marijuana on campus can have consequences
Medicinal use:
Eugene’s newest medical marijuana dispensary Oregon Medigreen brings patients relief
Eugene’s Elvy Musikka is one of only four recipients of federal medical marijuana for Glaucoma
Strict medical marijuana restrictions may hinder those in need