Why Kal Penn Joining The White House Is Crazy

Kal Penn, the actor who has played Kumar in the "Harold & Kumar" films is joining the White House as a liason to Asian American groups and The Arts. While this turn may be surprising (how could the guy from Superman work at the Whitehouse?), Penn actually has a long political history. A graduate from UCLA, Penn has been speaking on college campuses across the country about political issues. He even taught a course at the University of Pennsylvania.

First off, I know Penn is a wicked smart dude, but the simple fact that Kumar, the biggest on screen stoner of the 21st century in now working in the White House in a field as marihuannna friendly as "The Arts...." is nothing short of wild. Check out the scene above from "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay." It's funny, progressive (aka "stoner friendly"), and also politically interesting.

So in honor of Mr. Penn's ascent to the white house. I would like to nominate the following other fictional characters to the White House staff.

1. Spider-Man- This is a hero who has a pure heart, I wanted to nominate Batman, but he's vigilante style of justice doesn't gel with 21st century politics (see the interogation scene in "The Dark Knight" for explanation).

2. Atticus Finch- Hero of "To Kill a Mockingbird" narrator and star is wise beyond his years.

3. Captian Kirk- I'm hearing his leadership is impeccable in the new Star Trek.

Cheeky Bulls, Rovers, and Ladies: Welcome to Australia

Grandmas are the primary audience for the new film "Australia." For it is a film so old fashioned, so romantic, and so epic it would fit in in the giant epics of the past. Oh I did I mention that it's a great ride.

A great ride, that's my primary goal when going to a movie like this. Sure I like this super emotional, super heady, super oh-man-that-was-so-depressing-I-can't-eat-a-sandwhich-without-crying emotional (this is what happens when I see any Clint Eastwood directed film).

Yet Australia is about as non-depressing as you can get. It's pure popcorn, it's popcorn covered in so much butter the bag is greasy goodness. It is non-stop traditional moviemaking and storytelling. Heroic cowboys, fish-out-of-water scenarios with beautiful ladies, sweeping vistas, nefarious villains, and adorable kids. Everyone has a happy ending (except the bad guys of course).

Too often we think of "ride" or entertaining movies as movies where robots engage in battle royales, superheros shoot white stuff out their hands, or landmarks get destroyed. Australia is that ride movie, however it's just rolls along like a cattle stampede, yet instead of a cattle stampede, it's more a old fashioned Grandma stampede. And they're all rolling to theatre.