A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

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

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.

The guys have gone their separate ways years ago. Harold (John Cho) is a wall street suit married to Maria (Paula Garcés). Her father (Danny Trejo) insists on a real Christmas tree. Kumar (Kal Penn) is still a weed-smoking slacker. Vanessa (Danneel Ackles) drops by to inform him that she's pregnant with his child. Then Kumar receives a package addressed to Harold. It's a giant joint which Kumar lights but Harold refuses. The Christmas tree burns down and everybody goes on a quest to replace it before Harold's father in-law returns. Harold has his uptight friend Todd (Thomas Lennon) and Kumar has his loser friend Adrian (Amir Blumenfeld).The guys still have great chemistry. That's why I want them to reunite earlier. I get the constant joke early on of them joining people other than each other. At some point, I don't care about that joke and I rather have the reunion. The under-current of the movie is about babies and family. There is nothing funnier than a coked up baby. I laughed every time. Blumenfeld is a little too whiny and annoying. On the other hand, Lennon is hilarious. In the end, it's about Harold and Kumar, and they're great together. And of course, there is the one and only great NPH.

but once you get to the third film in a franchise the newness has worn off, so it just isn't as good. Plus, I didn't get to see it in 3D, and it probably would have been cooler.In this movie, Harold and Kumar aren't that close any more. However, they are brought together by a gift for Harold delivered to Kumar. Things happen and Harold's Christmas tree burns down and it is very important to have one for his wife's family. So, most of the movie is about them and their adventures as they look for a replacement tree. Drugs are involved as well as the Russian mob, and of course, Neil Patrick Harris makes an appearance and it was funny. Then they through Santa in and that part was a little too silly. The claymation part was funny with the kid and squirrel.FINAL VERDICT: Fans of the franchise should like this, it just isn't original any more.