Review of A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011) by Richard C — 16 Jul 2012

Everyone who knows me knows I'm not a big fan of comedies. But when it hits it hits big with me. The first installment in this semi tired franchise was a movie that hit. They followed it up with a mostly unfunny sequel and now here comes the latest installment with a holiday twist.

This time around the title characters are reunited after not being friends for a few years because Harold has decided to grow up. He is now married to Maria and they are trying to have a baby and Kumar is of course still stoned out of his mind and has pretty much nothing going on.

After a freak accident that leaves a treasured christmas tree from Harold's in laws destroyed. Their adventure begins trying to find a tree that matches and have it home in time for christmas. Inspired hijinks ensue from a drug addicted baby, a claymation sequence, Neil Patrick Harris and a awesome little creation called "wafflebot" to less successful christmas goop like a criminals daughter trying to loose her virginity, santa claus being shot and a crude ode to christmas story.

But all in all it's a successful enough installment to merit a recommendation. The film also sports a kinder approach than the other films with messages about friendship, family and growing up. Far from being perfect the film fares much better than its lame predecessor but not as good as the original.