A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

Merrily outrageous, over-the-top fun.

Overflows with inspired craziness, doling out an all-night odyssey of sex-centric crises, death-defying conflicts, and Neal Patrick Harris-centered insanity with snowballing momentum, as bits pile on top of bits with intoxicating verve.

This time the quest plot involves Asian-American pals Harold and Kumar chasing after a Christmas tree to replace one they've accidentally burned down, but that's only an excuse for the relentless barrage of tasteless gags, most of them damned funny.

Think of it as"Airplane"! with controlled substances.

This vulgar romp is a generally harmless, heartwarming affair, a cinematic Christmas cookie almost sweet and flaky enough to cover the fact that it's laced with hash, cocaine and assorted bodily fluids, blood included.

A grinning but toothless comedy, this Christmas-themed outing pales in inventiveness compared to the original, which brought sweet, silly anarchy to its one-thing-leads-to-another plotting.

We're getting more of the same, but less of the impact, like weed from a bad dealer.

Over-the-top and hilarious, the third of the series is non-stop jokes, laughs, and fun; everything you'd expect in a Harold and Kumar movie. Neil Patrick Harris is, as always, spot-on. The way he portrays himself, but not himself at the same time, is a paradox that no actor will be able to duplicate.

A Raucous Holiday Romp That Masterfully Strikes the Comic Middle Ground.20160912 (3.0)Oh Neil... NPH haha! Did you seriously bring someone who looks just like your real-life husband? Hahaha. Harold and Kumar always know exactly where the middle ground lies. If every comedy could just manage to do this much, they would at least hit the mark reliably. Directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson, the 2011 stoner holiday comedy "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas" reunites John Cho and Kal Penn as the beloved mismatched duo six years after their escapades in Guantanamo Bay. Now estranged adults pursuing divergent paths—Harold as a polished Wall Street executive married to Maria, and Kumar still indulging in unmotivated slacker habits—the estranged friends inadvertently cross paths on Christmas Eve when a mysterious package arrives for Harold. A catastrophic mishap involving an errant joint results in the incineration of Harold's formidable father-in-law's prized Christmas tree, forcing the pair into an adrenaline-fueled dash across New York City to locate a suitable replacement before morning. Along the journey, Neil Patrick Harris makes a gloriously unhinged, meta-comedic return playing an exaggerated alternate version of himself alongside real-life husband David Burtka, blending holiday cheer with raunchy set pieces, sharp buddy-comedy dynamics, and playful self-awareness.

Anyone who, after watching Seth Rogen's "The Night Before," thinks, "Hmm. Well, it was a decent setup, but it was never fully realized and just kind of simmered on the sidelines," should look back four years and enjoy "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" (in 3D!!). Personally, I think this Christmas adventure of the two goofballs has aged remarkably well. If you grew up in the 2000s and 2010s, are a fan of "New Kids" and Seth Rogen, and are looking for a wacky Christmas movie, then you should definitely check this one out. I laughed a lot, and loudly.

A Very Horrible Cmas A pathetic outing by this otherwise popular franchise. What a waste! I forced myself, yes, I had to tie myself down to endure this study in stereotypes, this parade of cliches. But halfway through I was able to escape and forget the Stop button, I went straight for the Eject! Unless you're a tween and/or mentally deficient you will find no redeemable qualities in this travesty. Avoid like the plague that it is.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]