Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, the sequel to the modern stoner classic Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle, hit theaters last Friday. I sat down with the film's writer/directors -- Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg -- a few days after the release of their film. In the interest of journalistic integrity (and shameless name-dropping), I should tell you that the gentlemen are friends of mine, and all around great dudes.

Cinematical: How did the Hurwitz/Schlossberg magic begin?

Jon Hurwitz: Hayden and I became friends on the Randolph High School debate team and connected over a common love of comedy. We were both obsessed with the movies of the Farrelly Brothers and the Zucker Brothers. We loved Howard Stern. We thought it would be amazing if we could actually make movies one day. But it felt like it was the most unrealistic goal of all time for a couple of dudes hanging out in a basement in New Jersey. What changed everything for us was that in high school we were known for coming up with really funny "Would you rather?" scenarios. We came up with a list of 250 that we were going to try to get published.

Cinematical: What was the best one?

JH: "If you had to be sexually abused, would you rather it be by an android or a Muppet?"

Cinematical: Muppet. It's softer.

Hayden Schlossberg: Exactly. Plain and simple. It would hurt less. That is the correct answer.

(We're re-posting our SXSW review of Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay to coincide with the film's theatrical release this weekend.)

"Is it as good as the first one?" That's the question I've been asked most since watching Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay last night. Short answer: Yes ... and no. The HIGHly-anticipated sequel to 2004's Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle comes just how you'd expect it: raunchy, wild, disgusting and completely absurd. This isn't -- and has never been -- a real-life comedy (all that went out the window after the boys rode a cheetah in the first installment); it's a fantasy/comedy, the kind you'd dream up while stoned out of your mind on a Saturday night. I tend to think that's how writer-directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg came up with this idea in the first place.

The Harold and Kumar films have always been about three things: drugs, sex and racial differences. Like with any sequel, all three of those are upped significantly. Instead of traveling across the state of New Jersey, Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) are now traveling across the United States. The stakes are also higher; this time, the boys are mistaken for terrorists while on a plane heading for Amsterdam after Kumar rigs up a bong that holds in the smoke -- a bong that looks and sounds like "bomb." After they're taken down to Guantanamo Bay, the first ridiculous homosexual joke plays itself out and the boys manage to escape. But where do they go and how do they clear their name? And, most importantly, will we care ... at all?

Where was this scene in the movie?

This has been one looooong day, but the first two big films of the South by Southwest Film Fest are out of the way, and I have to say one was good and one, well, wasn't. After it took hours for the print to arrive at the theater, Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (full review forthcoming) premiered to the press at the very awesome South Alamo Theater. Folks, if you haven't ever been to an Alamo theater (today I popped my Alamo cherry), it was quite possibly the greatest moviegoing experience EVAH! Picture a regular movie theater, but with long tables in front of each row of seats. Then you get a full menu, you get to chow down during the movie ... and all of it just completely rocks. Loving Alamo right now.

Harold and Kumar 2 was exactly what you'd expect it to be -- and though it's not as solid and well-defined as the first film, it's still chock-full of silly laughs, nudity (bottomless party was the best scene of the entire film) and tons of pot jokes. NPH is also back and badder than ever. 21, on the other hand, was a real disappointment. It was upsetting to see how they took a very cool story and completely Hollywood-ized it -- to the point where whatever awesomeness there was disappeared as soon as Kate Bosworth opened up her boring mouth. The Paramount theater was packed, though, and a majority of the crowd seemed into it. Our crowd, though, walked out angry, bitter and itching for some good (free) beer ... which we got at the opening night party.

There, we met up with tons of other bloggers, filmmakers and other random SXSW nuts. John Campea (God bless him) from The Movie Blog was there, attempting to pick up girls while taking everyone's picture. Had a great chat with Arin Crumley (of Four Eyed Monsters and From Here to Awesome fame), and watched Alex from First Showing get absolutely sloshed. Long day. Fun day. Look for our reviews to start pouring in tomorrow.

I just spent the last half hour with the newly-released SXSW schedule, which we brought to you earlier today. Even though I'm only a week or so away from Sundance, it's now time to get all suited up for SXSW -- a festival I'll be heading to for the first time come March. To say I'm f**king ecstatic to finally visit Austin, the Alamo Drafthouse and nosh on some tasty Texan BBQ would be an understatement. I'm beyond ecstatic. I'm f**king ecstatic times a gabillion. Seriously. And when I finally went through the schedule before, I found myself itching to see literally every single film screening this year. Holy sh*t, did Matt Dentler and his crew nail down a sweeeet lineup, or what? I'm hating Dentler right now -- what the hell am I going to see? There's so many great-looking flicks this year, my head is friggin' spinning.

Regardless of what I actually wind up seeing (Scott, Jette, Peter, Snider and I are already quietly fighting for titles behind the scenes), know that Cinematical will definitely be bringing you reviews, interviews and scene coverage for some pretty big films. We shall get the early word on flicks like Harold and Kumar Go to Guantanamo Bay, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, 21, Stop-Loss, Battle in Seattle, The Promotion, Shine a Light ... and so many more. I'm there for six days, and I can tell you now that I will see more films in six days then I will probably see in the next six months. We'll also be bringing you lots of on-the-scene coverage, for those of you who can't make it to Austin this year. So if there's anything in particular you want to see from our SXSW coverage, do let us know.

A couple of weeks ago, SXSW released info on a handful of films that would be screening at the film festival this March, including the opening-night film, 21. Today, the Austin-based festival let a few more titles slip, including one well-known comedy: Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. That might not sound like your typical festival fare, but it'll provide a nice balance with documentaries and low-budget indie dramas.

Although the full SXSW lineup won't be released until Feb. 5, the fest also released details on five other movies that will be screened: Battle in Seattle, a feature about the 1999 WTO demonstrations in Seattle that is actor Stuart Townsend's directorial debut; Mister Lonely, Harmony Korine's movie about a Michael Jackson look-alike meeting a Marilyn Monroe look-alike; The Promotion, a comedy about rival supermarket managers that stars John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott; Crawford, a documentary about how the Texas town has been affected by George W. Bush's home there; and a live-action/animation feature called The Toe Tactic.

Finally, more speakers were announced for a series of "Conversations" panels (the kind where it's generally one famous person and a moderator): Helen Hunt, Michael Eisner, and Harlan Ellison. No word yet on whether any of the Harold and Kumar filmmakers or crew will be at SXSW this March, although writer-directors Hayden Schlossberg and Jon Hurwitz were at Austin Film Festival last fall to talk about their experiences writing both films.

"It's gonna be like Euro-Trip, only it's not gonna suck."

Unfortunately, that's the only quote safe enough to post here, because this latest age-restricted trailer for Harold and Kumar 2 sprays profanity at you from all different directions. It's rude, crude, nude and the minute and a half (or so) trailer manages to stereotype practically every single race, religion, you name it. But holy crap is it funny. If you were a fan of Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (some of you dug it, others not so much), then you're going to absolutely love this sequel. Based on the trailer, it appears the movie begins right after the boys get home from White Castle ... and they're in the bathroom, as you'd expect one to be after eating tons of the WC.

From there they attempt to fly to Amsterdam, only their pot-addiction gets the best of them and the boys wind up in Guantanamo Bay after their bong is mistaken for a bomb. They somehow manage to escape, travel across the country, meet up with a really hot naked chick, stay the night with a hick family (who have a kid with three eyes) and, of course, visit a whore house with Neil Patrick Harris. Does it get any better than that? Seriously. Quality entertainment, if you ask me. The only problem is you have to be over 18 to view the trailer, and those of you out of the country won't be able to see it since you need an American zip code. However, I'm sure it will show up on YouTube soon, so look out for it. The rest of you should head over to the film's official website right now and watch this sucker -- it's a friggin' riot. And kudos to any trailer that throws up the words "Now They're F**ked" in the middle. Harold and Kumar 2 is set to smoke you out on April 25 (which, for all you stoners out there, is as close to 4/20 as you're gonna get).

What will comedy look like in 2008? Here's a taste ...

Is there a sport Will Ferrell hasn't taken on yet? Competitive idiot throwing? Is that a sport? Anyway, a whole set of pics from his latest sports comedy, Semi-Pro, have just landed on the internets (courtesy of Cinema Blend). And if you're itching for plenty of Ferrell with a giant afro, then these photos might just make your day. The pic, which co-stars Andre Benjamin and Woody Harrelson, revolves around Jackie Moon (Ferrell), the owner-coach-player of the ABA's Flint Michigan Tropics. In between a ton of ridiculous physical comedy, Moon will try to rally his team together to make their NBA dreams come true. Semi-Pro slam dunks into theaters on February 29. (Bonus: See a photo after the jump.)

The first image from You Don't Mess With Zohan has arrived online (courtesy of JoBlo), showing the pic's star, Adam Sandler, surfing the top of a car a la Michael J. Fox in Teen Wolf. In the film, Sandler plays a Mossad agent who fakes his death and travels to New York City to become a hairdresser. Mariah Carey and Rob Schneider co-star. On paper, it sounds cheesy and the kind of film you take on when in need of a quick fix, however Judd Apatow co-wrote the screenplay and, well, that's gotta be a good thing, right? Frequent Sandler collaborator Dennis Dugan directs, and this flick is set to arrive in theaters on June 6. (Bonus: See the photo after the jump.)

Finally, guess who's baaaack? Yup, our favorite ethnic pot smokers are heading back to the big screen in 2008; this time, however, there's a lot more at stake than a trip to White Castle. Oh yes, when Harold and Kumar attempt to fly to Amsterdam, they're mistaken as terrorists and soon find themselves on the run from authorities and all wrapped up in an hour and a half's worth of shenanigans. Five words for you fans out there: Neil Patrick Harris Will Return. Harold and Kumar 2 (aka Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay) will smoke you out on April 25. (Bonus: See an additional photo after the jump, or check out more over at Cinema Blend.)

Austin Film Festival doesn't only show movies, but also includes a screenwriters' conference. This year, the lineup included Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, who wrote Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle and have written and directed the upcoming sequel, currently known as Harold and Kumar 2. (First they were going to Amsterdam, then they were escaping from Guantanamo Bay. Maybe next they'll be searching for a crystal skull bong.)

Hurwitz and Schlossberg sat down with moderator Josh Weiner and an audience of conference attendees to discuss both the Harold and Kumar movies, and used clips from the first movie to share various lessons they learned in screenwriting.

The first clip shown was the scene in which Harold (John Cho) encounters Maria (Paula Garces) in the elevator, both in his fantasy world and in reality. Hurwitz said the scene was pivotal to the movie because it introduced Maria as a romantic interest, which provided something for the audience to connect with in a movie that otherwise has a fairly slight storyline. In fact, the impact of the scene ultimately caused the ending to be reshot.

Guess who's back? That's right, Harold and Kumar are gearing up for another wild adventure -- except this time "they're running from the joint." The first teaser trailer for Harold and Kumar 2 (which, at one point, was called Harold and Kumar Go to Amsterdam) has arrived on YouTube (you know what that means -- catch it while you can), and based on what we see, it appears we're in store for a lot more of the same goofy humor that made the original Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle an instant cult classic.

Basically, Harold and Kumar attempt to get on a plane and go to Amsterdam, except some old lady freaks out and thinks Kumar's a terrorist. So, from there, they show us Rob Corddry behind a piece of interrogation glass cracking some joke about North Korea and Al Qaeda working together. Perhaps the greatest part of the entire teaser (and those fans of the original probably know where I'm heading with this) is the re-introduction of Neil Patrick Harris ... as himself. Yup, before the teaser cuts out, there's Harris -- behind the wheel of a car -- looking all coked up and out of his mind, as per usual. I wouldn't go touting this as a must-see comedy; I think the Harold and Kumar shtick is geared toward a particular audience (ahem, stoners), and I wouldn't expect any ground-breaking comedic moments. But the boys have their fans, and those fans will definitely be interested in seeing them up on the big screen one more time. Me? I'll be waiting for DVD ... for obvious reasons.

We knew it was coming, we knew where they were going, but we didn't know who would be joining them for another round of marijuana-induced adventures. And now we do. Eleven folks have joined Kal Penn (Kumar) and John Cho (Harold) in the long-awaited sequel to Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Harold and Kumar 2 (previously known as Harold and Kumar Go to Amsterdam ... except they don't really go to Amsterdam) has added -- deep breath -- David Krumholtz, Rob Corddry, Christopher Meloni, Ed Helms, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Paula Garcés, Jack Conley, Roger Bart, Danneel Harris, Eric Winter and -- drum roll please -- Neil Patrick Harris!

For die hard fans of the original film, the only name that really matters to you is Neil Patrick Harris, as his cameo in the first flick stole the show. Daily Show vets Corddry and Helms should also provide plenty of laughs along the way. Story picks up right where we left our two heroes: at White Castle, putting an end to their vicious case of the munchies. When Harold's crush Maria heads off to Amsterdam, the boys attempt to follow her ... only to be yanked off the plane when a fellow passenger suspects Kumar is a terrorist. From there, the duo travel a lot farther than the state of New Jersey -- from Guantanamo Bay, through the deep south and eventually ending up in "Bush country ..." all the while being chased by Homeland Security.

Production began last week in Louisiana, with original Harold and Kumar scribes John Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg writing and directing the follow-up. Currently, there's no word from New Line on a release date.