Amazingly I've never seen this film. As you described it, in basic contours, it does seem like other early aughts comedies. Old School and Dodge Ball follow similar rough plots. No exploration of minority views (or very minor) but similar plots, with maybe a bit more or less of an arc than Harold or Kumar experience.
It's interesting that in plots of old, a character would undergo an enormous evolution. That's the arc of Shakespeare's Henry V in the two parts of Henry IV. Or Luke Skywalker. Or even Hot Rod into Rodimus Prime in Transformers: The Movie.
Maybe slacker movies, including H&K, are also critiquing that arc of transformations? Arguing such a transformation isn't possible or realistic.
I think you’re onto something as slacker films don’t emphasize character arcs nearly as much. That said, I feel like most mass market popular film comedies of that time frame of, say, 2000-2006ish had a very distinct lack of both arc and clear cause and effect plots (favoring loose sketches instead) until comedies with classic structured plots (Superbad, The Hangover) made a comeback. Almost like they were all slacker films to some degree (possible! An unintentional glut that kind of killed the genre) or film adaptations of the popular comedy sketch format when it hit its peak, or both. Either way, a pretty unique time in history in retrospect. I came of age with those films, so it’s weird to think that I grew up thinking that was “how you made a comedy movie.” I like those movies a lot but can’t say I miss that time.
Amazingly I've never seen this film. As you described it, in basic contours, it does seem like other early aughts comedies. Old School and Dodge Ball follow similar rough plots. No exploration of minority views (or very minor) but similar plots, with maybe a bit more or less of an arc than Harold or Kumar experience.
It's interesting that in plots of old, a character would undergo an enormous evolution. That's the arc of Shakespeare's Henry V in the two parts of Henry IV. Or Luke Skywalker. Or even Hot Rod into Rodimus Prime in Transformers: The Movie.
Maybe slacker movies, including H&K, are also critiquing that arc of transformations? Arguing such a transformation isn't possible or realistic.
As always I loved your analysis, L Vago.
I think you’re onto something as slacker films don’t emphasize character arcs nearly as much. That said, I feel like most mass market popular film comedies of that time frame of, say, 2000-2006ish had a very distinct lack of both arc and clear cause and effect plots (favoring loose sketches instead) until comedies with classic structured plots (Superbad, The Hangover) made a comeback. Almost like they were all slacker films to some degree (possible! An unintentional glut that kind of killed the genre) or film adaptations of the popular comedy sketch format when it hit its peak, or both. Either way, a pretty unique time in history in retrospect. I came of age with those films, so it’s weird to think that I grew up thinking that was “how you made a comedy movie.” I like those movies a lot but can’t say I miss that time.