Movie rating: 3 and half Star

A Very Harold And Kumar 3D Christmas

Harold and Kumar have drifted apart since we last met them. Chu's Harold has ostensibly grown up and matured, settling into domestic bliss with his beautiful wife; while Penn's Kumar has continued even further down the slacker route and appears to care even less about things than when we first met him. At different points in their lives, they are reunited when a package for Harold arrives on Christmas Eve and Kumar drops it off at his place - somehow burning down his beautiful tree. Being that Harold's father in law (Danny Trejo... Scowling lots) is obsessed with the tree looking perfect, they embark on an adventure to find another one before his family returns from midnight mass.

Becoming more ridiculous as it moves along, the crassness levels in modern cinema may have ascended to an epic new high (sorry). Everyone is so game to pillage scenes for chuckles, that every so often a big one hits resulting in a genuine belly laugh. It's not without irony of course; A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas lets us know early on just how self-aware it is with a line coolly delivered by Kal Penn. It's an obvious one, but it simply reinforces what type of comedy you are watching and reminds you to switch your brain off and enjoy.

Watch: A Very Harold And Kumar 3D Christmas

Penn and Cho also have that easy chemistry that makes every filthy line feel organic. Strangely groundbreaking in its pairing of stars, the duo have the timing down pat, and Cho looks like he's actually enjoying playing a different kind of character. Personally I'm shocked Pen came back to the series after such a high profile gig in The White House - or didn't take more flak for it - and he's very funny also. The 3D is obvious and fun, proving that it works best when in a gimmicky setting and the cast are all game.

Stupid it may be, it still made laugh. Fans of the franchise will enjoy this.

Review by Mike Sheridan | 09:00 | Friday 9th December 2011 | Movie Review

Comments

• FilmBuff76

  If you enjoyed their previous two adventures, where they got the munchies and went to Guantanamo Bay, then you'll definitely enjoy this seasonal comedy with the likeable slacker duo of Harold and Kumar. It's completely irreverent of course but is infused with enough good will and hilarious humour to earn its badge as a Christmas movie. Despite apparently dying in the previous film, Neil Patrick Harris pops up again for an amusing cameo and even hints at a fourth film. Although, it's becoming apparent that Harold and Kumar are getting older and facing up to thirtysomething maturity (marriage, kids etc). The 3D works pretty well too and there are lots of in-jokes (I particularly liked the references to what Cho & Penn have been up to since the previous film). It's not the funniest film of the year (that would be Bridesmaids), but it's a welcome antidote to the usual slushie Christmas movies that Hollywood churns out at this time of the year.

  Posted 22:55 | Fri 9th Dec 2011

• christopher buckley

  Still raunchy, still irreverent, and still hit-and-miss, this Harold & Kumar outing also has a Christmas miracle: The audience gets to see the sweeter side of the duo.

  Posted 17:06 | Fri 23rd Dec 2011

Log in to leave a comment

Login or register to leave a comment

Enter your email:

Enter Password: Lost Your Password?