Plenty of 3D films have done very well at the box office: “Avatar,” “Up” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.” But audiences have been reluctant to embrace the new technology, and not only because 3D ticket prices carry a premium. Very few 3D movies are made to take advantage of its enhancements. Arriving in theaters Friday, though, is an exception. From the get-go, this film makes you feel you’re in the same world — no, same room — as its characters. Without any pretention, it simply offers what could be the best use of 3D we’ve seen in theaters so far.
Believe or not, I’m talking about “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas,” the latest entry in the munchie-movie franchise.
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| ON SCREEN |
| ‘A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas’ |
| » Starring: Kal Penn, John Cho, Neil Patrick Harris |
| » Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson |
| » Rated: R for strong crude and sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and some violence |
| » Running time: 90 minutes |
Just a few minutes into the film — after Kumar (Kal Penn) jumps on Santa’s lap, throwing off a profane response to the mother of the child next in line, almost as a warning to those who, despite the R-rating, thought they were about to see a family-friendly holiday movie — the lovable slacker-stoner Kumar lights up with that mall Santa. He’s played by comedian Patton Oswalt and he moonlights as a drug dealer. Marijuana smoke billows out from their lips and toward the audience. The credits haven’t even rolled yet, and we’re already hanging out with our old friends again.
The third movie in the franchise takes place six years after the previous two. Kumar and Harold (John Cho) are no longer two young twentysomethings with few, if any, responsibilities. At least, Harold isn’t. He’s a high-powered Wall Street investment banker, trying to get his beautiful wife pregnant. He’s moved on, while Kumar hasn’t. When the former doctor-in-training is invited out Christmas Eve, he demurs: “I’ve got to stay here and smoke this weed. Otherwise, I won’t get high.” This isn’t your typical sentimental Christmas movie.
Harold and Kumar haven’t seen each other in ages; they’ve found new best friends. But they’re reunited that night after Kumar drops off a package mistakenly sent to Harold at the apartment they used to share. Its contents manage to burn down Harold’s Christmas tree — which just happens to be one his scary-serious father-in-law (Danny Trejo) has grown on his own land for eight years. They’ve got until 2 a.m. — when the in-laws get back from midnight Mass — to replace the tree.
Insane high jinks, of course, ensue, some of which involve Neil Patrick Harris, who revitalized his career in the first film. It also made the careers of its stars, one of whom (Penn) filmed the third entry on a hiatus from working at the White House.
Screenwriters Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have grown up along with the characters they created. They prove that yes, we all must grow up and take on responsibilities. But we can meet them and still relax with a little downtime now and then.
