A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

Now pushing 30, Harold (John Cho) works on Wall Street and lives in suburban New Jersey with his beautiful wife, Maria (Paula Garcés), while Kumar (Kal Penn) is still a lounge lizard in the same Brooklyn apartment, having been kicked out of medical school and dumped by longtime girlfriend Vanessa (Danneel Ackles). The pair have gone their separate ways, making new friends since Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) and Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (2008). But then Kumar receives a mysterious package addressed to Harold and delivers it on December 24. Unfortunately, while lighting a doobie, Kumar accidentally ignites Harold's Christmas tree, a cherished gift from Maria's Korean-hating father (Danny Trejo); so they set off to replace it before the family returns from midnight Mass. Along the way, the pair encounter a vicious Ukrainian mobster (Elias Koteas), intimidating tree-sellers (rapper RZA, Da'Vone McDonald), and a baby covered with cocaine. Decked out with politically incorrect humor, this buddy/stoner romp, directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson, also features Neil Patrick Harris as himself. Festive and flaky, A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas celebrates joints to the world. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes (4 min.) and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is an extended cut of the film, a “Through the Haze with Tom Lennon” featurette with the costar (9 min.), a “Bringing Harold & Kumar Claymation to Life” featurette (4 min.), the BD-Live function, and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package on the Blu-ray version for an uneven holiday flick.] (S. Granger)