Parents' Guide to

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Raucous, crude stoner comedy is funny but not for kids.

Movie R 2011 90 minutes
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 14+

Based on 14 parent reviews

age 14+

Funny

This was not that bad as some people think but way better than the second one. Nudity was pretty harsh. The thing that bothered me was the drug use and I do agree with CSM that its not for kids

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
age 17+

Adults Only

This third one is better than any of them in the series but it has too much sexuality and nudity. Your kid should not be watching this film without you, plus this isn't a movie for kids it's for ADULTS ONLY. It's funny and thrilling but not for kids, it can affect their lives!!!!!!

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (14 ):
Kids say (11 ):

The third installment of the Harold and Kumar franchise is quite funny, even though it goes so very wrong in so many ways. There's the baby who gets dosed with several strong drugs, the accidental shooting of a revered holiday icon, the celebrity who pretends to be gay so he can bed women (the gay-in-real-life Neil Patrick Harris, again playing a debauched version of himself), the racial stereotypes, the underage drinking, and (of course) the over-the-top drug consumption.

Nobody is spared in this stoner comedy, which is part of the reason it works. Also, it has heart. This isn't just a film about getting high; it's a movie about friendship and growing up ... and getting high. Harold and Kumar realize that though they've grown in different directions, they both learn from each other. In the process, they become better friends and better people. (And did we mention they get high?) This film is in 3-D, though not for any obvious reason. If the main goal was to show a giant marijuana smoke ring coming right at the viewers, the filmmakers succeeded. Otherwise, the effect is mostly unnecessary.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: November 4, 2011
  • On DVD or streaming: February 7, 2012
  • Cast: John Cho , Kal Penn , Neil Patrick Harris
  • Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
  • Inclusion Information: Asian actors, Gay actors, Indian/South Asian actors
  • Studio: Mandate Pictures
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 90 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: strong and crude sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and some violence
  • Last updated: October 8, 2022

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