A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" offers a generally strong 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer. The colors are consistently bright, festive, and lifelike, with vibrant reds, warm skintones, and deep black levels that complement the film’s holiday theme. Textures and closeups are detailed, from the individual strands in Kumar's beard to the glowing embers from a spinning joint. The fine veneer of grain is preserved, enhancing the filmic quality, without any noticeable digital noise reduction or artifacting.

Despite these strengths, the transfer does exhibit occasional flaws. There is noticeable aliasing and minor compression artifacts, especially due to the inclusion of both 2D and 3D versions on a single disc. Additionally, scenes involving green screen backgrounds sometimes result in flat appearances for actors, and there are moments where black levels aren't as deep as they could be. Minimal digital noise surfaces sporadically, likely due to lighting deficiencies. Despite these minor issues, the overall resolution and color fidelity are excellent, offering detailed and textured visuals. The presentation retains a filmic feel but can at times resemble high-quality digital content.

While not hitting the heights achieved by its 3D counterpart, the 2D Blu-ray version provides a viewing experience that is clean and enjoyable, with minimal distracting imperfections. Fans of the series will appreciate the visual clarity and depth this disc offers, ensuring the film's inherent festivity shines through effectively.

The audio presentation of "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" on Blu-ray demonstrates a marked difference in quality between the theatrical and extended cuts. The theatrical version boasts a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, while the extended cut is limited to a 448kbps Dolby Digital mix. This discrepancy naturally disappoints, as the extended cut's Dolby mix lacks the depth, clarity, and dynamic range of its DTS-HD counterpart. Nevertheless, the theatrical 5.1 DTS-HD MA track excels with exceptional dialogue clarity, precise directionality, and immersive sound placement.

The sound design is impressively lively throughout the theatrical version. Standard for many comedies is a front-heavy mix, but "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" breaks the mold with its engaging use of rear speaker activity and hearty LFE output. Chaotic sequences such as car crashes, a Broadway show with erupting Christmas carols, and a thrilling Claymation snow-demon encounter aggressively engage the surround channels. This results in an enveloping audio experience that mirrors the film's 3D visuals. Crucially, dialogue remains crisp and clear, well-balanced within the dynamic mix.

The lossless audio track in the theatrical version is meticulously balanced, with every sound earning its place in the intricate soundstage. Ambient sounds and sound effects are carefully prioritized, contributing to an immersive viewing experience that enhances the film’s comedic chaos. In contrast, while the extended cut’s Dolby Digital mix would be commendable on a DVD, it pales when juxtaposed with the more robust DTS-HD MA track of the theatrical cut. Ultimately, the theatrical lossless track earns high praise for its comprehensive soundscape and dynamic enthusiasm, significantly elevating the overall audio experience of the Blu-ray.

The extras on the Blu-ray of "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" are scarce but offer intriguing insights into the film's production and some light-hearted comedy. The 96-minute extended cut, while adding minor gags, disappointingly lacks a lossless audio mix, providing only a 448kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track. The highlight of the extras is undoubtedly "Through the Haze with Tom Lennon," where Lennon's unscripted humor shines. "Bringing Harold & Kumar Claymation to Life" provides a brief but fascinating look at the storyboard-to-screen process of the film's claymation sequence. The selection of deleted scenes, though limited and not particularly memorable, adds some mild amusement.

Extras included in this disc:

• Through the Haze with Tom Lennon: Six segments of comedic interviews with Thomas Lennon.
• Bringing Harold & Kumar Claymation to Life: A quick look at storyboards and final scenes comparison.
• Deleted Scenes: A few minutes of inconsequential but occasionally amusing deleted content.

"A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" is the third entry in the Harold & Kumar series, and it remains unapologetically irreverent and comically absurd. Unlike its predecessors, the film employs 3D technology not just as a gimmick but as a central element to its humor, mocking both the technology and its rampant overuse in the industry. The movie thrives on its visual gags and over-the-top sequences that are explicitly designed for 3D viewing, making it almost a prerequisite for maximizing the film's comedic impact. However, even in 2D, fans of the series will find plenty to laugh about, albeit with some of the visual jokes losing their punch.

The plot is quintessentially thin to provide a framework for the chaos that ensues. Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) are estranged as adults, each living drastically different lives—Harold as a successful Wall Street professional and Kumar remaining a perpetual stoner. A mishap involving Kumar accidentally burning down Harold’s father-in-law’s (Danny Trejo) cherished Christmas tree sets off a wild quest to find a replacement. Along their journey, they encounter a series of ridiculous, laugh-out-loud scenarios: from drug-induced hallucinations and confrontations with Ukrainian gangsters to performing an outrageous Broadway number with Neil Patrick Harris.

The humor is a mix of smartly-timed crude jokes, bizarre set pieces, and pop-culture references. Directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson and penned by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, the film delivers plenty of festive profanity, shameless nudity, and outrageous scenarios that push the envelope. The chemistry between Penn and Cho remains a highlight, allowing the film to intermittently address themes of friendship and personal growth amid its raunchy escapades. While some jokes may fall flat or feel forced, the unabashed absurdity and occasional moments of heart ensure that "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" remains a worthy, if not essential, installment for fans craving laugh-packed holiday entertainment.

"A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" brings its irreverent humor and unique festive spirit to Blu-ray with a mixed bag of technical proficiency and entertainment value. This third installment in the Harold & Kumar franchise is a riotously funny stoner comedy that delivers plenty of laughs, albeit with occasional hit-or-miss moments. The Blu-ray comes with a vibrant video transfer that, while not perfect, is above average and visually pleasing. The real treat lies in the theatrical version's DTS-HD Master Audio track, which is robust and immersive, though it's perplexing that the extended cut only offers a lossy audio option.

Enthusiasts of 3D entertainment will find significant enjoyment in the 3D edition, which fully capitalizes on the film's abundant 3D gags. For those sticking with the 2D version, some novelty might be lost, but the humor and charm of the duo's antics remain intact. Special features are somewhat disappointing in terms of quantity; however, the included extras are undoubtedly amusing and add value to the overall package.

It may not be Christmas (yet), but don't wait until next December to spend some time with "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas." It's as hit-or-miss as every other Harold & Kumar movie, and the 2D version isn't nearly as funny as the film's 3D laugh riot, but don't let any of that keep you away. You'll crack up, you'll tear up, you'll call it the best stoner comedy of the year. And you'll be right in doing so. Warner's Blu-ray release is no slouch either, arriving with a bountiful video transfer, a thrilling DTS-HD Master Audio theatrical-version track, and a handful of hilarious extras. More special features would have certainly helped (it's bare under the Harold & Kumar tree), as would have a lossless audio option on the film's extended cut, but fans won't object. Too much. If you have a 3D setup, be sure to go with the 3D edition. If not, ask Santa for a 3D setup, if only so you can watch "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" the way it was intended to be seen. In the meantime, add this version to your collection and enjoy.