A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is disappointing. The film certainly has some hilarious moments. But the franchise seems tired. The effort is weak. At times the film was plodding.
If you are going to watch this movie you must watch it in 3D. To do otherwise would be a sin. The film takes full advantage of 3D effects. The 3D related jokes are top-notch. An egging has never seemed so cruel or awesome. I was not even aware that they could separate in that way. The film has some of the best 3D effects you will see.
I really enjoyed the first two films in the series. I thought that they were silly and fun and even poignant. They had a good mix of dark humor, potty jokes, and satire.
Plus, I have loved Neil Patrick Harris in just about everything he has done since his rebirth in Starship Troopers. I will admit to leading an audience in screaming Doogie every time he was on the screen when I first watched Starship Troopers. In all honesty his presence in the film is golden. He is hilarious.
I will also say that the movie contains some great send ups of Christmas Movies. From claymation to the myriad of Santa movies. They were both nostalgia inducing and fun. Although the A Christmas Story jokes were predictable.
I also think there is something to be said about the way they portray friendship. The way it can strain and be rebuilt. There is something to be said about capturing the emotions wrapped up into the enterprise.
But there are some significant problems.
The film felt like it was thrown together. Some of the elements look like they were afterthoughts. The send up of the Occupy Wall Street movement is a pretty strong sign that at least some parts of the film were literally made at the last moment. Indeed, the quality of the editing in this scene was appreciably different from other scenes in the film.
You get a sense that people are just going through the motions. Insert a racist joke. Now we need a physical gag. Have we shown someone ingesting a ridiculous amount of drugs in the last 10 minutes? Wait when do we get to show a penis? Too much of the film was half-hearted.
Sure, there are some really funny parts, but they are also strung together by some slow-moving, not so funny scenes. The film just drags at times. If you are going to make a film that is over the top, do so. Do not go in there half throtle.
There is also a really long running gag about a baby getting high on all types of stuff. The baby is downright creepy. Seriously unsettling. I was uncomfortable. Plus, I think it has been long enough that people might not pick up on the Trainspotting jokes.
I really wanted to like this movie. I was primed. I laughed at the other films. But this felt underwhelming. There were some terrific moments, but so much did not work that it left me wanting.
PARSI VERDICT: A very 3D movie but not much of a gift.
See what the other half thinks: Haus’s view.
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