November 4, 2011 by Vinnie Leduc
Like the previous two movies, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is an adventure founded on a ridiculously stupid and simple plot that branches and drifts off into outrageous tangents. I doubt there’s any way the writers came up with this creation completely clear-minded, but despite the randomness, at least it’s consistently funny like its predecessors. Yeah, it has some dull moments, but 3D Christmas still manages to showcase some clever wit and get in some jabs on racism, stereotyping, and even current affairs like Occupy Wall Street.
The 3D is hit-or-miss. Sometimes it looks awesome: whenever there’s 3D smoke on the screen, you’ll feel like you’re really sitting in on a session. Other times the obligatory 3D is better than decent and reminiscent of the Jackass 3D intro. But then there are times when the 3D looks painfully forced and totally unnecessary, like many of the scenes featured in the trailer and TV spots.
Neil Patrick Harris. Wow, what more can I say? Stealing the show once again, he adds another edition to his legendary self-parody. I absolutely loved the way the writers incorporated NPH’s real-life coming out since the last Harold & Kumar movie, and I only wish his part had been expanded, for his role in the series has grown to become more vital and definitive.
Joking, smoking, toking, poking, coking… it’s all in there. The humor encompasses a wide range of styles and elements. The T&A in H&K returns, but it also extends the recent trend of male frontal nudity for a hard R-rating. I swear this year in film must be a record for onscreen wieners. Despite this, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas gifted me with some of the hardest laughs I’ve had in a theater this year, right up there with Horrible Bosses. On more than one occasion I had tears rolling down my face, so I expect that fans of the franchise will also enjoy Harold & Kumar‘s latest trip. My only wish for this 3D Christmas is less penis and more Harris. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas gets 3.5 out of 5 stars or B or Good.
