Grade: C Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson (Private High School Musical) Screenplay: Jon Hurwitz,Hayden Schlossberg( both writers all Harold & Kumars), Cast: Kal Penn, John Cho (both actors in all 3 Harold and Kumars) Rating: R My touchstone for iconoclastic Christmas stories is Bad Santa, where a whimsically foul mouthed Billy Bob Thornton trashes most of the conventional ideas of a benevolent Santa. The stoner comedy A Very Harold & Kumar 3-D Christmas tries to trash the whole idea of Christmas from a toking Jesus to a toking Santa with a few cheery jokes along the way.
Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) must replace a tree they've inadvertently burned while trying to please Asian Harold's Latino father-in-law (a mean and ugly Danny Trejo). Through a variety of misadventures, including the requisite musical number with Neil Patrick Harris playing the "Am-I-gay?" game. Although NPH is not that funny, the ease with which he makes fun of himself and the dance routine contrasts with the sometimes forced humor surrounding him in the movie.
Kal Penn, who spent the last two years working at the White House, looks like he has gained some acting expertise while among all those professional politicians. Since most were Democrats, there might have been a bong or two to be shared even if no one was Santa. For the angry crowd that chases Wall Streeter Harold, there is no relief whatsoever. That recession has a way of creeping into holiday movies this year as in Margin Call and The Heist.
As its R rating suggests, A Very Harold & Kumar 3-D Christmas is not the present for the whole family. However for dad there are a few bare breasts and for mom a few joints to remind her that Christmas cheer was a short while ago only a toke away.
John DeSando co-hosts WCBE 90.5's It's Movie Time, Cinema Classics, and On the Marquee, which can be heard streaming at http://publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/ppr/index.shtml and on demand at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/arts.artsmain Contact him at JDeSando@Columbus.RR.com