Movie Review by Russell Pinkston
Kumar (Kal Penn) is still getting stoned and shucking responsibility. His friend Harold (John Cho) has moved on, gotten married and became a successful businessman. Since he has gotten married he doesn’t smoke weed and hasn’t seen or hung out with his friend Kumar in a couple of years. A mysterious gift is delivered to Kumar’s apartment for Harold and Kumar decides to deliver it to his long lost friend.
The present for Harold turns out to be a huge joint (natually). Harold don’t smoke anymore so Kumar takes it and lights it up. Harold sees him smoking it in his house and he throws the lit joint out of the window….but magically it flys in the other window and lands in Harold’s Christmas tree. But this isn’t any ordinary tree, his father-in-law (Danny Trejo) grew this tree himself for many years and hopes to have the perfect Christmas. So when the tree goes up in smoke, the two fight and go their separate ways. They are reunited again as they search all over town for another tree. Adventure, danger and Neil Patrick Harris await them.
Kal Penn (National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, Superman Returns) who quit his job on the popular tv show House (they killed off his character…or his character killed himself off) to join the Obama administration. He decided to take a break from the White House to return to acting and film this movie (why?).
John Cho (American Pie, Star Trek) does alot of tv shows but is probably best known for the Kumar character.
Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, M.D., The Smurfs)returns as himself…which is a bit of a mystery since he supposely died in the second film. He does redemn himself slightly from the horrible movie, The Smurfs and probably has most of the best lines and scenes in this movie.
Danny Trejo (Con Air, Spy Kids) known for his tattoos and bad attitude in many supporting roles until his lead role in the film Machete is a plus to this cast.
I seen this movie on dvd so I didn’t get to see the 3D version…I am sure it made it a better viewing experience than the one I had to endure.
I am not really a fan of the stoner movies genre (Half Baked, Pineapple Express) even though I grew up with Cheech and Chong and a certain close family member. The Stoned Age is a rare exception. I love that movie.
Overall this movie does nothing for me. I didn’t find it funny or even to entertaining. If you are a fan of the other Harold and Kumar films you might like this one…I think part 2 ( Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay) was better. I say SKIP THIS MOVIE.