Cody F. Pepin
Journal Staff

Once again, Harold and Kumar cross the line of decency and sobriety in the hilarious 3-D Christmas-themed third installment of the series, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas. Kal Penn and John Cho return as the leads, but this time a lot has changed.

The movie opens on Christmas Eve, six years after the second installment, with Harold working on Wall Street and Kumar, well, smoking weed alone in his apartment. Harold dodges eggs thrown by Occupy Wall Street protestors as he leaves work and races home to his wife Maria, who he spent the last movie chasing after. Maria’s entire family arrives for Christmas, including her father, played by Danny Trejo. Harold is desperate to impress them.

The audience soon learns that Harold and Kumar have not seen in each other in a few years, and seem to be living completely separate lives. All of this changes when a mysterious package, addressed to Harold, is left at Kumar’s apartment.

Kumar heads to Harold’s very nice home to deliver the package, and the usual pot-smoking antics ensue. However, Harold, who appears to have been indoctrinated into the professional, adult world, is not seen smoking at any time during the movie. If fans find this disappointing, it is more than made up for by a baby who inadvertently ingests marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy at various points throughout the film. Some audiences may find this distasteful, and some of it is, but it is funny nonetheless.

As usual, A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas is full of racy jokes, most of them pretty funny. There is a surprise guest appearance from RZA of The Wu-Tang Clan as a tree dealer. Christmas trees, that is. The plot revolves around Harold searching for a Christmas tree to replace the one that Maria’s father had grown.

Because he destroyed the tree in the first place Kumar tries to help and continually gets them into crazier and crazier situations.

Neil Patrick Harris, a staple of the Harold and Kumar series, makes his comedic appearance, and even gives Harold and Kumar a waffle-making robot that later saves them from certain death. Harris plays his normal role in the series, the arrogant, now “openly gay,” sex-crazed lunatic who is constantly trying to get laid, and he brings a few laughs to the film.

Many fans of the dynamic duo are probably wary about the 3D format of the movie. However, the film uses the 3D in a way that amplifies the humor and draws the audience into the movie. It is not overdone by any means, and there are large chunks of the movie that are not in 3D at all. The opening credits start with a smoke ring, blown by Kumar while smoking with a mall Santa played by Patton Oswald, coming off the screen and exploding into a Christmas wreath. Much of the 3D seemed to be while weed was being smoked, making it appear as if the movie theater was being filled with smoke. The filmmakers must have wanted to get the audience in the right mood.

Overall, it is a good movie with the themes of friendship and growing up and it contains a strong message that perhaps friendship is more important than growing up, especially if that friend makes you happy. The only drawback is the amount of penises shown on screen throughout the movie. Some of them are very funny and contribute to comedic effect, but at some points it seems like the director was yelling, “We need more!” However, they probably hold the title for the first 3D claymation genitalia on an Indian man, when Kumar decides to whip it out.

All in all, if you like the Harold and Kumar style of the past, then go see this movie for an hour and a half full of laughs. You won’t be disappointed and it will probably not be what you expected.