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A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas: A Highly Recommended Holiday Treat

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:48:34 PDT

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is, in a word, silly. But here's why I loved it: the ridiculous hijnks made me laugh out loud, the 3D actually makes the movie much better, and it packs just the right amount of humor and holiday cheer into the metaphorical pipe.

It's been seven years since Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn's) fateful trip to White Castle, and they've grown up quite a bit since then. Well, at least Harold has - now married and settled down in the New Jersey suburbs, Harold has left his days getting high with Kumar behind in favor of making the big bucks on Wall Street and trying to start a family. Aimless Kumar, on the other hand, is hitting his bong harder than ever now that girlfriend Vanessa has dumped him. The former BFFs are brought back together by a mysterious package for Harold that shows up on Kumar's door. When its contents - a giant joint - sets fire to the prized Christmas tree grown by Harold's overbearing father-in-law, the incident ignites a reunion for the guys as they set out to replace the Frasier Fir.

To see why I loved taking another ride with Harold & Kumar, just

The formula is basic: it's a night of horrible incident after horrible incident that would make you want to crawl under your seat if it wasn't so entertaining. As Harold and Kumar are consistently thwarted from their plan of securing a tree, they encounter gangsters, a strangely endearing waffle-making robot, and of course - Neil Patrick Harris. Peppered throughout are nods to other holiday films and the Harold & Kumar franchise itself. Devotees of the franchise will appreciate the winks, but the movie also stands on its own just fine.

3D movies are a dime a dozen these days, which is why I especially appreciated the fact that Harold and Kumar plays up the technology at every turn. We're talking smoke rings in your face, egg yolk in your face, and the like, but the execution enhances the experience like no movie since Avatar. The humor here is raunchy, over-the-top, and often offensive, but it also happens to be side-splittingly funny. If you've seen the first two Harold & Kumar movies, then you know what comes with the territory, so it's best to just let the jokes leap out of the screen and come right at ya.

Harold and Kumar's rift is easily the most believable aspect of the plot, and their wounded egos and jabs at each other give the film heart (an important piece that was missing from Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay). What ultimately keeps A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas on track is the message that's buried under all the drugs and nudity: tis the season to forgive and forget. And if you're anything like Harold & Kumar - to get high with a little help from your friends.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Trailer: Tis the Season to Shoot Santa in the Face

Becky Kirsch — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:36:35 PDT

It might feel wrong to watch a trailer for a Christmas movie in August, but A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas certainly isn't your standard warm-and-fuzzy holiday fare. Sure, there's snow and Santa, and, um, Jesus, but there's also scantily clad ladies, beer pong, and, of course, some pot smoking. In the third installment of Harold and Kumar's adventures, the guys meet up after a few years of estrangement and set out on a quest to replace Harold's father-in-law's perfect Christmas tree. You'd never be able to garner that from this trailer though, which is a mishmash of random jokes, some Christmas references, and a solid ad for the 3D. Oh, and there's some Claymation in there, too.

If the actual film has more plot than what we see here, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas could make a nice addition to atypical holiday movies like Bad Santa. If not, Neil Patrick Harris does a song-and-dance number, so there's that. Check it out when you

Hollywood Ladies Come Out to Support GQ's Men of the Year

PopSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:07:11 PST

The Chateau Marmont hosted GQ's Men of the Year Awards last night in LA. A few of the magazine's honorees, including Zach Galifianakis, Tom Ford, and Neil Patrick Harris joined forces with starlets like Olivia Wilde and AnnaLynne McCord. January Jones hit the carpet alongside Dexter's Jennifer Carpenter as Alexander Skarsgard, who won a "Man Who Saved HBO" award, went from LAX to the bash - click here to check out the full list of winners.

Alexander stayed close to rumored girlfriend Kate Bosworth, despite recent reports of her being linked to other guys. Sarah Silverman, meanwhile, was there to keep Zach company as his fellow funny man Russell Brand took a night off from romancing Katy Perry to mingle with Quentin Tarantino. Lindsay Lohan also turned up for the event while drama with her father seems to finally be cooling off.

To see lots more from the party, including Paul Rudd, Chris O'Donnell and Emile Hirsch, just

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Images include: Shenae Grimes, Emile Hirsch, January Jones, Jennifer Carpenter, Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, Chris O'Donnell, Sarah Silverman, Zach Galifianakis, Olivia Wilde, Tom Ford, Neil Patrick Harris, Levi Johnston, Russell Brand, Quentin Tarantino, Jim Nelson, Alexander Skarsgard, Kate Bosworth, Lindsay Lohan, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Jaime King, Aziz Ansari, John Cho, Brad Goreski, Eva Amurri, Matthew Morrison, Rose McGowan, Chris O'Donnell, Amanda Seyfried, Kim Kardashian, AnnaLynne McCord, Jessica Stroup, Elizabeth Banks, Emma Stone, Maggie Grace, Danielle Panabaker, Hunter Parrish, Paul Rudd

Ginnifer and Chloe Join the Jessicas at a Prada Party

PopSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:30:00 PST

The Prada store in LA was packed on Friday night with starlets celebrating the launch of the label's new book. Jessicas Biel and Alba kept things simple in black, as did mom-to-be Camila Alves. Christina Ricci took a break from her bikini fun with her new boyfriend to get decked out in a bejeweled white number. Chloe Sevigny, meanwhile, sported a bra-bearing look to pose for photos with pal Liz Goldwyn and Big Love costar Ginnifer Goodwin. Rachel Zoe added a little color to the proceedings with her husband Rodger. The Prada party was a prelude to the even more star-studded bash at LA's Museum of Contemporary Art on Saturday, and it looks like the ladies got a head start on their fashionable partying.

To see more from the bash, just

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Images include: Camila Alves, Carine Roitfeld, Chloe Sevigny, Liz Goldwyn, Christina Ricci, Joey Kern, Ginnifer Goodwin, Zoe Saldana, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Rodger Berman, Rachel Zoe, John Cho

2009 Comic-Con: Joseph Fiennes, Dominic Monaghan and ABC's Flash Forward

BuzzSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:30:53 PDT

I have to say, ABC's upcoming Fall show Flash Forward looks really compelling. From the few scenes I got to watch and the discussion at today's Comic-Con panel, I'm pretty much sold on this show already. And it's not just because Joseph Fiennes is very handsome, nor is it because Dominic Monaghan is on the show and made an appearance (which he did!). Really, it's not.

The series begins on an average day that soon turns unusual when everyone in the world blacks out at the same time. During this time, of course, initial damage is done (people driving while they black out get into accidents, etc.) and everyone "flashes forward" in his/her mind, seeing images of what life is like six months in the future. Then the action resumes in "present day" and the season progresses episode by episode until we "catch up" with the future that everyone has glimpsed. Thus, the question becomes: If you know what happens in the future, would you (and could you) try to change it?

Because it's ABC and it's a mysterious show that is even titled Flash Forward, many have called it a companion series to Lost, though the show is actually based on a novel by Robert Sawyer. Appropriately, though, the panel today was moderated by Entertainment Weekly's resident Lost guy, Jeff "Doc" Jensen. Panelists included the show creator David Goyer (writer of Batman Begins), a couple of producers, and actors Joseph Fiennes, John Cho, Courtney B. Vance, Christine Woods and, briefly, Dominic Monaghan. To check out some of my initial thoughts on Flash Forward,

We were shown the first several scenes of the pilot episode and right away this show grabs you and yanks you in. We see images of destruction (car accidents, injured people, etc.) and then they rewind four hours and we see what each of the main characters was doing just before the blackout.
Joseph Fiennes is (yup, I'm gonna say it) so fine. He just is. I am so looking forward to seeing him on my TV each week.
John Cho, while very cute as well, is somewhat hard to buy during scenes in which he's supposed to be a tough guy. But I'll still be pleased to see him on my TV each week as well.
Also coming to our TVs: Dominic Monaghan, the beloved Charlie from Lost. He wasn't in the first preview we saw but he showed up in a clip that was shown at the very end of the panel, at which point the screaming in the hall drowned out his one line. Then he came onstage but didn't have much time to talk before we were ushered out. All we learned was that his character is named Simon and, according to David Goyer, his character is a "game changer" who "f***s up a lot of things."
In addition to the actors here at Comic-Con, Lost's Sonya Walger (Penny!) also plays a major role as Joseph Fiennes' character's wife. She even filmed a brief video explaining that she's not at Comic-Con right now because she's getting married this weekend, and besides, she doesn't like to be around all the weirdos in costumes. At the very end, though, she takes off her bathrobe to reveal a Wonder Woman costume and asks someone where her "f***ing tiara" is. It's pretty amusing.
I do think this show will appeal to many Lost fans for a few reasons (and I think it appealed to ABC for the same reasons). It's a mysterious show that's grounded in human drama. The creators and writers actually do know where they're going with the story, which is something that I think fans find comforting. There won't be any nonsense or randomness to the writing, and producer Marc Guggenheim even assured us that "we'll never see a flash forward that doesn't happen." And at the same time, it sounds as though they're trying to avoid predictability. Goyer explained, "Part of doing the show is subverting expectations . . . there are a lot of game-changing things that happen," especially in the seventh episode.
Having said all that, nobody wants to call it "The New Lost." Goyer: "Nothing is ever going to be 'The New Lost'. . . . Lost was a genre-breaking show and [we figured that] if ABC was courageous enough to put that on the air, they might be courageous enough to put this on."

So far, I'm glad ABC has taken a chance with this one. Time will tell, though. Flash Forward premieres Sept. 24.

Chris, Zachary, and More Beam Over to Japan

Molly — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:30:26 PDT

The men of Star Trek hit the red carpet in Tokyo, Japan today for the premiere of their action-packed blockbuster movie. Zachary Quinto looked handsome even without his Spock uniform and hairdo signing autographs for fans while Chris Pine happily posed with some lucky ladies. JJ Abrams basked in the glory of his newest hit, which easily scored number one at the box office this weekend. We'll see if it manages to hold its title overseas, but something tells us that this is one Captain Kirk and Spock duo that we should get used to seeing together.

To see more of the cast just

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Images include: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, John Cho, J.J. Abrams, Eric Bana

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Star Trek: Move Over Kirk, Spock Is Hot

BuzzSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:30:01 PDT

To be honest, I'm not a huge Star Trek fan. Obviously as a member of the human race who was raised in the United States, I've been exposed to the original television show and many of its different iterations. I've even seen some of the movies including Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (responsible for my lifelong fear of earwigs) and the movie I commonly refer to as "the one with the whales," aka Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

So, getting me to be excited for anything Star Trek related is a bit of an uphill battle. Given that, it's a pretty amazing thing director J.J. Abrams and his team have accomplished with this reboot. The movie successfully turns back the clock on a franchise four decades old and brings it back to life with an adrenaline shock to the system that will leave you breathless. And in pure Abrams fashion, the story and characterization do not suffer. The result is popcorn cinema at its best. Despite not being a Trekkie (or Trekker, or whatever you call megafans these days), I can't stop thinking about this movie. To see why,

The question I had going into this movie was: How does one reimagine Star Trek for today's audience without completely alienating hardcore fans? The answer, it turns out, was to simply start over. In a clever twist, the opening sequence sets into motion events that alter the space/time continuum. Yes - and this will come as no surprise to Lost fans - Abrams uses time travel that bends around certain facts. Rather than disregard Trek lore, the filmmakers simply figured out an acceptable way to start fresh with the characters.

Because of these time-bending events, James T. Kirk, the future captain of the USS Enterprise, grows up fatherless in Iowa. He's brilliant but extremely self-destructive. Meanwhile, on Vulcan, a young Spock is teased and discriminated against for having a human mother (Winona Ryder). We know the two young men are destined to meet but when they finally do it's different than what you might imagine. When Kirk (played by Chris Pine with a wink and nod to the original performance) meets Spock (Zachary Quinto) at the Starfleet Academy they do not get along. Kirk is all swagger and machismo. Spock is, of course, logical but Quinto plays him with a smug know-it-all edge that hints at the human emotions beneath the surface.

However, when the movie's villain Nero (Eric Bana) declares war on Vulcan and then Earth, it's all-hands-on-deck time and the two must work together. A bunch of green, yet familiar, cadets - Dr. "Bones" McCoy (Karl Urban), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Sulu (John Cho), Chekov (Anton Yelchin), and eventually Scotty (Simon Pegg) - suddenly find themselves in charge of a brand-new ship. There are moments when seeing these good-looking youngsters in such a well-known uniform feels a little bit like the Trek version of Muppet Babies. But that feeling is fleeting and for the most part the performances are heartfelt and quite funny.

In the midst of chaos and war, Kirk and Spock become friends - but not before Spock violently pins Kirk's cocky butt to the floor. In Abrams's universe, Spock aims for logic but often succumbs to his emotions, messy though they may be. Pine charges through the film with all the charisma needed in a golden-haired leading man, but in a lot of ways this is Quinto's movie and he actually turns Spock into something of a sex symbol. Some fans might find these changes to the characters' personalities sacrilegious, but I just appreciate the fact that their friendship provides the movie with an emotional center.

In the end, the experience is completely satisfying. There are in-jokes galore that even a Trek philistine like myself found thrilling and there are action sequences that had me on the edge of my seat. It's thoughtful, it looks great, and it's completely absorbing. In terms of epic action-adventures, it doesn't get much better than this.

Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Zoe and the Boys Bring Their Star-Studded Film to London

Molly — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:30:25 PDT

The gorgeous guys (and girl) of Star Trek hit the blue carpet for the premiere of their movie in London last night. Eric Bana, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and Zoe Saldana have been traveling around the globe to promote their film, with a stop in Spain following their time in Australia and New Zealand. Anticipation is mounting for the film's release in the US, and it'll finally hit screens here next Friday on May 8.

To see more, including Simon Pegg, John Cho, and JJ Abrams, just

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Images include: Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Simon Pegg, Eric Bana, JJ Abrams, Karl Urban

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Buzz News Roundup, 12/5

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:30:32 PST

Florence Henderson will play Christina Applegate's grandma on Samantha Who? - Entertainment Weekly
Jay Baruchel is negotiating to play the title role in The Sorcerer's Apprentice. - ComingSoon
Russell Brand is developing - and may star in - a remake of the 1981 comedy Arthur, while Fox is planning a remake of the 1984 adventure story, Romancing the Stone. - The Hollywood Reporter
Guitarist Joe Satriani is suing Coldplay for plagiarism. - Billboard
Amy Adams will star in a film adaptation of the book The 10 Best Days of My Life, about a woman who must list her 10 best days in heaven. - Variety
Joseph Fiennes and John Cho are in negotiations for ABC's Flash Forward, which will possibly be paired with Lost. - The Hollywood Reporter
The Dark Knight will be re-released in theaters and IMAX on Jan. 23. - ComingSoon
Some details on the post-Super Bowl episode of The Office. - TV Week

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Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay: They Should Have Just Gone to Amsterdam

Molly — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:30:30 PDT

The great thing about Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle is that there were no expectations. The news of its secret hilarity spread quietly through whispers and surprised admissions - You know what I saw last night OnDemand that was oddly incredible? It was a time when a Neil Patrick Harris cameo was delightfully random since no one had seen much of him since Doogie Howser and the simple fact of two guys on a quest for greasy sliders was plot enough. Unfortunately, Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay doesn't have that luxury. The expectations are high (ha, get it?), and sadly, the movie doesn't live up them. Or maybe I'm just getting old.

The thing is, I'm not the only one getting older. Escape From Guantanamo Bay takes place just hours after their trip to White Castle, but somehow the fact that Kal Penn and John Cho are now both in their 30s and look it adds a kind of sad angle to the whole thing that didn't exist when they were fresh-faced 20 somethings who just loved smoking pot. Elsewhere in their acting careers, they're both heart-throbby and respectable in their own rights, but somehow they seem to be too old to still be playing this game. That's a bit nitpicky, though, and really the least of the movie's problems. To see the rest of my thoughts just

For me, the moment the movie went awry was when they ended up at Guantanamo Bay instead of making it to Amsterdam and getting into a whole heap of trouble there. While I appreciate the notion of a noble quest, it's far too convoluted this time, and Amsterdam is just an afterthought. Speaking of bringing Gitmo into it, it's a perfect example of where this movie fails. Time and time again they go for the most offensive lines - racial, religious, sexual, bathroom-related (lots of that) - for cheap laughs rather than a) actually making relevant political satire and comedy or b) making any jokes that haven't been done a million times before.

That isn't to say there aren't good moments. Neil Patrick Harris once again knocks it out of the park, even though at this point we know that real-life NPH isn't going for the biggest boobs at the whorehouse (not even joking: that's in the movie). Plus, at the heart of the movie there's a sentimental angle - a love story, a mushy poem, perhaps a sign that Harold and Kumar are growing up after all. Maybe this is one of those movies that will get better with viewing No. 2, and I'm sure there are plenty of inebriated people of all ages who will think it's a riot. Seriously, the frat boy sitting next to me was rolling in the aisles. In the meantime though, here's to hoping Harold and Kumar think long and hard about their plan before taking another trip.

To see the trailer and video clips from Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, check out movies.ivillage.com.

Photos courtesy of New Line Cinema