Title: A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn and Neil Patrick Harris

Christmas films are primarily known for their heartwarming, family-friendly messages and innocent stories aimed at children. But when the story is aimed towards adults and includes sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language, violence and of course, drug use, the film is undoubtedly a follow-up in the successful ‘Harold & Kumar’ series. The second sequel in the franchise, ‘A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas,’ doesn’t fail to please fans of the title characters, who once again find themselves in a crazy, illegal adventure after smoking marijuana. While some of the movie’s jokes feel recycled, the overall message that friends can reunite after life takes them in different directions is not only surprisingly touching, but also offers several amusing pranks as well.

‘A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas’ picks up six years after the previous installment in the franchise, 2008’s ‘Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.’ The title characters have been estranged for over two years, as their lives have taken very different courses; Kumar (played by Kal Penn) is unemployed, having failed a drug test required to enter medical school, and is still living in the same apartment he once shared with Harold (portrayed by John Cho). While Kumar has once again broken up with Vanessa (played by Danneel Harris), due to his immature ways, Harold is now married to Maria (portrayed by Paula Garges), and works on Wall Street.

The two title characters are preparing for their own respective holiday plans with their new friends, when a mysterious package mistakenly arrives at Kumar’s apartment for Harold. Kumar brings the package to Harold’s house, and accidentally burns his former friend’s Christmas tree, which was brought over by Maria’s father, Mr. Perez (played by Danny Trejo). Wanting to impress his father-in-law and keep him happy, Harold takes Kumar to find a new tree. The two naturally embark on a wild journey throughout New York City, which of course includes another chance encounter with Neil Patrick Harris.

Much like the first two films of the ‘Harold & Kumar’ series comically and controversially focused on the heated subjects of race and politics, the second sequel in the franchise amusingly tackles the taboo subject of religion. Director Todd Strauss-Schulson, who is making his directorial debut with ‘A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas,’ isn’t afraid of parodying all that’s holy about the holiday. For example, Harold and Kumar have no real remorse about burning Mr. Perez’s Christmas tree, and only set out to find a new one to please him. There’s also a humorous scene in which Harold and Kumar are saved by the Wafflebot, the hot toy of the holiday season, when two Russian gangsters tie them up and threaten to kill them. Strauss-Schulson skillfully implies that Americans are only saved by commercialization, as opposed to the church, where Maria and her family are attending midnight mass.

Strauss-Schulson also touches on the sensitive subject of two best friends drifting apart, due to the different directions their lives are taking. But in the heart of the holiday season, Harold and Kumar find a way to forgive each other as they go on another crazy adventure together. Part of what makes Harold and Kumar’s reunion believable and gratifying is the fact that Cho and Penn have a comical, geniune connection that they formed while filming the series’ first film, 2004’s ‘Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.’ The two actors have become friends in real life, and balance their characters out by infusing their own personality traits into each one. Cho and Penn even spent the first two weeks of the ‘A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas’ shoot filming their individual scenes, so that their characters’ reunion would be even more authentic.

While ‘A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas’ once again amusingly touches on a controversial subject, religion, and Cho and Penn still have a true bond, some of the series’ jokes are becoming cliched. Strauss-Schulson makes a commendable effort to create his own gags, but some jokes, such as Neil lying about being gay and really being a womanizer, have become predictable. While the main focus of the ‘Harold & Kumar’ series is to create puns about the stoner lifestyle, the puns about Kumar being a slacker who isn’t afraid to take risks, while Harold is more reserved and responsible, have also become tired.

‘A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas’ is another amusing insight into the crazy, adventurous lifestyle of the title stoner best friends. First-time filmmaker Strauss-Schulson includes some comical puns in the true nature of the ‘Harold & Kumar’ series. He also proves he isn’t afraid to take risks as a director by touching on, and joking about, the sensitive subject of religion. While Cho and Penn also rekindle their genuine bond on-screen, the overall tone of the second ‘Harold & Kumar’ sequel unfortunately doesn’t live up to the previous two installments in the series.

Technical: B

Overall: B

Written by: Karen Benardello