Ileana’s Movie Review: ‘Harold and Kumar’ Raunch Doesn’t Always Equal Funny

A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas

Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris, Paula Garces

Summary: It’s been several years since Harold (Cho) and Kumar (Penn) escaped from Guantanamo Bay and the two have grown apart. Harold is now a successful banker on Wall Street who married Maria (Garces) and relocated to the suburbs. Kumar on the other hand is still spending his days out of work and smoking pot. On Christmas Eve, Kumar heads out to the suburbs to deliver a mysterious package that was left on his doorstep for Harold.  Kumar accidentally burns down Harold’s Christmas. The two friends must now search the city to find a replacement tree before Maria’s family comes home.

Sadly I must say that this is my least favorite of the Harold and Kumar movies. It’s funny of course but not as good as I had hoped.  While it’s still raunchy and perverse, raunchy doesn’t always equal funny. The writing somehow lost its edge and I blame the secondary characters. Harold and Kumar are great together but none of the secondary characters are funny, except of course for Neil Patrick Harris. I will say that you definitely get your money’s worth in 3D effects. From start to finish there’s always something coming at you on the screen.

Trivia: In 2007 Kal Penn took a break from acting to go work for the Obama administration.

Rated: R – For strong crude and sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and some violence

Grade: C