'Harold and Kumar 3' Casts Full Ensemble

A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas, the upcoming third Harold and Kumar movie, has hired its ensemble cast, according to the press release from WB. The newest cast members to join the ranks are Thomas Lennon (Reno 911), Danny Trejo (Machete), and Fred Melamed (A Serious Man). 

In the third installment of this stoner comedy film franchise, Lennon is the only one who seems to have a confirmed character. THR reports that Lennon will play a dad and Harold's suburban neighbor who gets tangled up in the pair's latest adventure. (Along with Harold and Kumar, Lennon has also landed a role in the comedy What's Your Number?, as one of star Anna Faris' ex-boyfriends.) 

Less well-known actors have also joined the cast of the third H&K, such as Amir Blumenfeld (CollegeHumor.com), Richard Riehle (Halloween 2), and David Burtka (How I Met Your Mother), who is Neil Patrick Harris' partner offscreen. Comedian Patton Oswalt was also recently cast in the film, possibly as Harold's high-strung friend who has an infant daughter that gets high off of second-hand smoke.

Fan favorite Neil Patrick Harris will also make an appearance, even though he was shot dead outside of a whorehouse in the franchise's second movie, Escape from Guantanamo Bay. Also returning are, of course, John Cho and Kal Penn (leaving his post in Washington, DC to film this project) in the title roles of Harold Lee and Kumar Patel, respectively. Paula Garcés (Maria), Danneel Harris (Vanessa), Bobby Lee (Kenneth Park), and Eddie Kaye Thomas (Rosenberg) will all rejoin the Harold and Kumar family, as well.

H&K3 (tentatively titled A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas, but MTV Movies Blog points out that this title is not mentioned in the official press release) finds our favorite stoner duo in their 30s and -- gasp! -- leading separate lives. It has been six years since Harold and Kumar's last adventure, and Harold is now married and drug-free, working on Wall Street and living in suburbia. Kumar, on the other hand, still resides in the "man-cave," is still single, and has marijuana to blame for his suspended medical license.

The two are reunited when Kumar has to deliver a package to Harold that came to the man-cave by mistake. However, nothing is ever that simple, and after a pot-related incident, Kumar burns down the Christmas tree that Harold's father-in-law had grown specially. The two embark on a mission through NYC at Christmastime in search of a new tree. Of course, their good ol' pal NPH is there (because what would Harold and Kumar be without him?). Throw in a waffle-making robot, a claymation sequence, and a drug-taking infant and you've got an instant holiday film that well warm the hearts of, well, Harold and Kumar fans at least.

Personally, I'm  pretty excited for the ridiculousness that will be a third Harold and Kumar movie. I mean, these comedies aren't made for deep cinematic value, but I'm always entertained (more by the first than its sequel, admittedly). Plus, they've got NPH, and I absolutely adore him in anything.

The forthcoming film is the first of the H&K franchise to be shot in 3-D, which seems unnecessary -- unless you factor in the claymation sequence, which Vulture reports to be five pages long. If the film maintains a healthy balance between the credible and incredible without going overboard (even stoner movies have to draw a line, after all), I'm sure all Harold and Kumar fans will enjoy this holiday treat.

-- Alison Mierzejewski