While I did enjoy the film, there’s no sense in pretending it was a masterpiece. There are times when the plot becomes overly sappy, and focuses too much on the strained relationship of Harold & Kumar. I know some semblance of a story is necessary even in a stoner comedy, but why drag it out in a film like this? We know they are going to patch things up from the moment we realize there’s a conflict, so there’s no need for sappy, sentimental monologues about friendship.

Another problem I had with the film was the nudity. There wasn’t enough. This is already an R-rated movie, so why pull punches? There were several times where I found myself wondering “Why isn’t she getting topless?” Before you throw a rock at my face, keep in mind I’m not talking about a random female actress playing a waitress. I’m talking about actresses involved in the film’s various sex scenes. If this was almost any other movie, I wouldn’t be acting like such a sexist pig. But this is a Harold & Kumar sequel, so I don’t feel out of line having these expectations.

But those minor (and stupid) points aside, I have no real complaints about this film. Yes, it’s sexist, racially insensitive garbage, but that’s what it sets out to be. Besides, in my opinion, a talking, self-aware, waffle-making robot (which this film prominently features) makes up for anything in the politically incorrect department. So if you’re in the mood for some cheap, often twisted laughs, check it out (or save some cash, and watch it on Netflix in a few months).

But if you’ve uttered the phrase “that’s offensive” any time in the pas 24 hours, go watch Stuck Between Stations. Also, lighten the f*ck up.

There’s really not much to discuss here, as the trailer consists of a full-fledged visual assault (which will undoubtedly be exacerbated by the fact that it’s in 3D).

If you’re on the fence, I guess the only thing that I can share with you to help you make up your mind is when Neil Patrick Harris tells a girl who thought he was gay,”I am gay. Gay for that pussy.”

I know what my pickup line is for the rest of the fiscal year.

“He’s a song and dance man and he’s happy holiday and also may smoke some crack cocaine and try and force himself into one of the dancers,” Harris said. “That’s all I’ll say about that.”

Note that right now, Harris is promoting the family friendly Smurfs film. But figure the NPH of the Harold & Kumar franchise must have earned his invitation to the family Christmas party.

“Oh, he’s far from invited to Christmas,” Harris added. “They come upon him in a very hilarious way.”

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas is out this November.

Just kidding….sort of. I admire him leaving before the quality drops any further, but part of me really wants to see him run that thing into the ground, “Simpsons” style. Either way, he’s not the first to prematurely say adios to a role. Some of TV’s most popular shows have had actors walk away while the ratings were still high. Here are nine such examples.

Mike Flaherty (Michael J. Fox) – “Spin City”

In the forth season of the popular ABC sitcom, “Spin City,” producers were forced to shake change things up when the show’s star, Michael J. Fox, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. His character, Mike Flaherty, left his position as deputy mayor after taking the fall in a mafia scandal. Flaherty went on to become an environmental lobbyist in D.C., working along side Senator Alex P. Keaton, Fox’s character from “Family Ties.” He was later replaced by a new character, played by Charlie Sheen. Things ended poorly two seasons later.

Diane Chambers (Shelly Long) – “Cheers”

In the pilot episode of “Cheers,” the character of Diane Chambers is abandoned at a bar, Cheers, by her boy friend, a married man named Sumner Sloan. Devastated by the experience, she accepts a job at the bar in order to begin rebuilding her life. In the fifth season of the show, Sumner Sloan returns and offers Diane the chance to finish writing her book, “Jocasta’s Conundrum.” She ends up leaving her job and lover, Sam Malone to pursue the opportunity. The character was written out of the show at the behest of actress Shelly Long, whose decision to leave is widely considered one of the biggest blunders in television history.

Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) – “M.A.S.H.”

When Colonel Henry Blake was discharged from the army and sent home at the end of “M.A.S.H.’s third season, viewers were probably expecting a tearful good bye. But they probably weren’t expecting to have their hearts ripped out of their chests. Writers surprised everyone by having the character killed off in a plane crash during his flight home. They did so after actor McLean Stevenson left the show. He felt his character was becoming a second fiddle to Hunnicut and Pierce.

Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) – “Happy Days”

When Ron Howard decided to leave his role as the star of “Happy Days,” at least he had a good reason. He was launching his career as a director. But removing the main character of a show about the mid-50’s and early 60’s proved easy enough, and writers shipped his character, Richie Cunningham, off to the army.

Eric Forman (Topher Grace) – “That 70’s Show”

Eric Forman was the glue that held “That 70’s Show” together. His basement was the meeting place for all of the other characters, including his parents. So when Topher Grace decided to leave the show, it seemed like a stretch to keep the show in production. It was. After Forman left to teach in Africa, it lasted only one season.

Benjamin Stone (Michael Moriarty) – “Law and Order”

After four years on the initial “Law and Order,” District Attorney Ben Stone was written off the show, resigning his post after a key witness was murdered while under his protection. Actor Michael Moriarty claims he left the show to protest what he perceived as a government attempt to censor violence in the show. Producers told a different story, involving Moriarty’s “erratic behavior.” Either way, “Law and Order” never missed a beat, and continued for another 16 seasons.

Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) – “ER”

Dr. Mark Greene was the first character introduced on the hit medical drama, “ER.” But after eight seasons and no end in site, actor Anthony Edwards wanted to move on. Writers decided to kill off the character with a good old-fashioned case of brain cancer. Despite the loss of such an iconic character, the show lasted another seven seasons.

Lawrence Kutner (Kal Penn) – “House”

The character of Lawrence Kutner was probably the greatest Indian-American Doctor with brutally murdered adoptive Jewish parents in the history of television. That’s why everyone was so bummed when the writers decided to kill him off via suicide. The reason they did so was because actor Kal Penn had accepted a liaison position at White House. Based on the method of his departure from the show, I’m assuming the writers were McCain supporters.

Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) – “The X Files”

“The X-Files” was a wildly popular sci-fi drama that helped bring conspiracy theories into the main stream. Agent Fox Mulder was the heart and soul of the show. After seven seasons of exploring the paranormal, actor David Duchovny walked away after contentious contract negotiations. Writers decided to tie up loose ends in a fitting manner: by having Mulder abducted by aliens. However, his character did return sporadically for the remainder of the series.

If you’re a fan of drug use or anti-Catholic blasphemy (or both), you’re in for a treat. Actor Thomas Lennon, best known as Lieutenant Jim Dangle in "Reno 911," is hard at work on the set of  A Very Harold &  Kumar Christmas 3D, which is currently being filmed in Detroit (aka the Hollywood on the Rust Belt). According to Lennon, the film has no shortage of drug use and, or showering nuns.

I think when people Harold and Kumar in 3D it’s going to be a full visceral experience not unlike seein Avatar with a bunch of dudes smoking pot and some naked nuns taking a shower, which is what I believe they’re filming today. In fact I know for a fact that’s what they’re filming today because I happen to not be on-set today and it’s kind of a bummer.

Lennon was also quick to point out that the third installment of Harold and Kumar was actually being filmed in 3D, not converted afterward, a fact that I’m sure will not be lost on the thousands of stoned jackasses who will be watching the movie while waiting for their pizza to hydrate in the year 2017. (Collider)

Neil Patrick Harris (the actor and the character) is returning for the third installment of the Harold and Kumar trilogy. Harris joins the original stars, John Cho and Kal Penn, as well as newcomers Patton Oswalt and Thomas Lennon.

The film, currently titled A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, has already begun shooting at a mall in Michigan. Unfortunately, it’s not slated for release until Christmas of 2011. If that bums you out, just get stoned, click here, and forget I said anything. (Empire Online)

Directors: Todd Strauss-Schulson

Cast: John Cho, Kal Penn, Patton Oswalt, Thomas Lennon

Synopsis: The dynamic cannabis-loving duo get involved in a Christmas adventure.

Everyone’s favorite stoners (besides Cheech & Chong; Spiccoli; the guys in Half-Baked; Chris Tucker‘s Smokey; The Dude; Method Man and Redman; the Pineapple Expressers; Jay and Silent Bob; the guy with the hat in Dazed and Confused; Kristen Stewart; Tenacious D; Snoop Dogg; Doug Benson; and Brenda Blethyn in Saving Grace) Harold & Kumar are gearing up for another big screen adventure.  The sequel will be Christmas-themed and marks the return of Kal Penn to Hollywood, after he joined forces with Obama as the associate director of Made-Up Position.

Producers are seriously considering releasing the film in 3D, because if there’s one thing their target audience (guys who work the night-shift at Carvel) have, it’s $25 for a movie ticket. (Deadline)