A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS

It seems so hard for sequels to ever match the quality of the original movie that spawned them.  Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle was the rare low-brow silly comedy that was actually hysterical.  Yet the third film in the franchise, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, is far from that.  It’s trying something a little different by going with a holiday theme this time around.  But that doesn’t do much to add to the humor.
John Cho and Kal Penn once again play Harold and Kumar.  The film takes place six years after the last one and the former best buddies are now estranged from one another.  Harold, always the conservative one, is married and living a good normal life.  Kumar is still living in the same apartment they used to live in together, still smoking pot daily, and still not really doing anything with his life.  But when a mysterious package arrives, Kumar notices that it’s addressed to Harold and decides to go bring it to him.  Kumar is busy trying to impress his intimidating father-in-law (Danny Trejo) who just brought a special Christmas tree to the house which has special meaning to his family.
As usual, it’s Kumar who’s always getting the guys into trouble, and when he brings the package over to Harold, it’s not long before he’s burned the special tree down.  That sets up the premise for the rest of the film: they’re simply running around town trying to find a replacement for the tree.  Just as they tried desperately to find a White Castle in the first film, they run into all kinds of crazy people and situations while on their mission.  Once again, it’s Neil Patrick Harris who gets the most laughs.  His mere 10 minutes or so in the movie is funnier than just about anything else.  You may chuckle here and there at other parts, but won’t be laughing as much as you probably did during the first film.
Searching for a Christmas tree is not exactly a clever storyline, but then again neither is searching for a White Castle establishment.  Yet it was much more satisfying to see the guys fulfill their insatiable craving for the munchies than it is to see them find a tree.  Plus, we never learn who sent the mysterious package or why it was even sent in the first place.  It’s simply a lame device to bring the two characters together again.  Adding the 3D aspect is kind of different for a comedy, and we get to see strange things coming towards our eyes such as marijuana smoke, but it’s just not satisfying.  Fans of the series might be interested to follow the ongoing journey of these two guys; anyone else just won’t get it.