A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)

A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas (2011): Dir: Todd Strauss- Schulson / Cast: John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris, Danny Trejo, Thomas Lennon: Christmas and pot smoking seem to be the holiday theme in this festive third outing featuring the Asian American Kumar and Chinese American Harold. The pair have gone separate ways with Harold now married and big on wall street, while Kumar is still his regular self living in an apartment and given the news that his girlfriend is pregnant. When an ominous package addressed to Harold lands outside his door, he delivers it only to end up burning the Christmas tree down that Harold's strict father- in-law brought. This simplistic setup is followed by numerous adventures to find a tree where they are hunted down by drug dealers, get a baby high on cocaine, and even accidentally shoot Santa himself. The humour is extra offensive this time out but features terrific 3-D elements including a sequence done in claymation. Director Todd Strauss-Schulson is backed with the same innovation that sold the first two films. Cho and Penn are still appealing as they find themselves again entrapped within strange subplots including one involving a waffle making robot. Neil Patrick Harris turns up in a great musical number although his vision of Heaven is offensive. The play on his sexuality is well placed. Danny Trejo as the grim father-in-law is given a background voicing his anguish. Thomas Lennon is very funny as an associate of Harold's whose baby gets stoned high. Colorful low blow holiday comedy about reconnection. Score: 6 / 10

The story goes back to the first movie's recipe of having a certain object as the final goal, in this case the Christmas tree. The story still develops as the previous movies did, quite unpredictable, with all those very crazy stuff of comedies. In a way, this doesn't bring anything new to the whole series. Also there seems to be a significant shift of orientation in this movie towards the more family movie genre. The movie shows a lot of family values. Even the final goal is about family acceptance. But I don't think this move paid off because it instead contradicts the crazy comedies the series has been known for. The acting overall is just as standard, and a little lower compared to the previous movies. Kal Penn and John Cho doesn't really develop the relationship between their characters further.

Anyone who has read more than a few of my reviews will have noted that I love Neil Patrick Harris. I enjoyed watching him "Doogie Houser MD" when I was younger, and then I enjoyed his work on TV Movies such as "Not Our Son", "Sudden Fury" and "Stranger In The Family" whilst I thought he was the stand out character in "How I Met Your Mother" and one of the main reasons for the shows success.And it was based on Neil Patrick Harris appearing in this movie as the reason I watched it. I'm not a fan of Kal Pen in general, and the Howard and Kumar movies have always been something I could live without seeing. However it was on TV today, so watched it. Whilst Danny Trejo adds a bit of quality to the proceedings, the first hour or so is tough work, but then Neil Patrick Harris turns up, sings and dances up a storm, and brings some serious laugh out loud moments, however once he exits the movie again feels poorer without his presence.Truthfully without knowing Neil Patrick Harris was in it, I never would have watched it, and knowing he would be turning up was all that kept me watching.

This review may dampen my credibility as a reviewer on these forums, but I don't care! I love this movie and think it was far better than "Escape from Guantanamo Bay." Does this movie recycle the same jokes and BS from the previous movies? Hell yeah! Is it still funny? HELL YEAH! Seriously, this film will go into my closely guarded Christmas collection which yes, includes classics such as "It's a Wonderful Life," "Christmas Carol," and "White Christmas." I might also add that the use of 3D technology in this film, though completely unnecessary, is actually one of the best uses of it I've ever seen in a "3D movie." It's a visually impressive, funny bone tickling, Danny Trejo pissin' off, hell of a movie! Gotta love it. Also Harold's wife is SMOKING hot. Hot damn!Can't forget..."Pancakes are f#cking gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay........." LOL.Pure entertainment! Sometimes that's what you want int a movie.