Christmas Cover Feature
Neil Patrick Harris Plays An Extreme Version of Himself In “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas”
The Neil Patrick Harris story goes something like this; He returns to the “Harold & Kumar” franchise having previously appeared in “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” and “Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay.” Earlier this year he starred in the global smash hit “The Smurfs,” bringing the beloved cartoon series to the big screen.
In “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas” Harris is back as the inimitable NPH –surprisingly full of life since Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) last saw him and admits, “These movies are so random and so preposterous; you never know what’s going to happen. It’s quite the ride!”
For Harris though the professional side of the ride includes his current womanizing stint as Barney Stinson on the hit CBS comedy series “How I Met Your Mother.” And for kicks he’s done voiceover duties as Lou in “Cats & Dogs :The Revenge of Kitty Galore,” as well as the character of Steve the Monkey in the box-office sensation “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.” He has also established a relationship with the Tony Awards as a lively and favorite host and/or producer. But he comes back to the “Harold & Kumar” universe with a fierce loyalty and a cosmic cleverness that taps into his unique comic gifts. The director of “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas,” Todd Strauss-Schulson, allows for a simple explanation.
“Neil is talented and fearless.” Strauss-Schulson points out. “He enjoys pushing it as far as possible.”
“I’m playing an extreme version of myself, which is a tricky dynamic,” says Harris. “You see my character as a raconteur- very all-American, happy-go-lucky-then in the next scene he’s walking on the dark side. That’s fun to play.
The former Doogie Howser stretches not only his comedic reserve in the stoner film but his musical abilities as well. Musical scenes with Harris were accomplished at the Detroit Opera House, with much of its 1922 glamour still intact despite renovations in recent years. The director recalls, “When I read the script I thought, ‘this is a fantastic opportunity –Neil Patrick Harris doing a Christmas spectacular. In 3D!’ I always imagined the NPH musical number as a showstopper. I felt at a certain point everything should come to a halt for some singing and dancing. It’s a complete change of pace, especially in a Harold & Kumar movie.”
“Todd is great,” Harris says. “The only difficulty is how do you say his last name? Strauss-Strunsenn? Shrum-Strunt? We just call him TSS. Seriously though, It’s his first movie, and it was fun to see someone take on something like this with such enthusiasm. He’s very into kinetic acting and filmmaking. I think it comes across on film.”
The director says, “Neil wanted to get it right. Every take was funnier than the last. I’d suggest he do something disgusting and he‘d do something even more disgusting than I suggested. I loved it.”
Harris adds, “It’s old school style 3D which in most other situations would be over-the-top,but in the Harold & Kumar world it makes total sense. The 3-D is, literally in your face, shot retro style, with all sorts of paraphernalia jumping out or floating within reach.”
What also jumps out is Neil Patrick Harris’ ability to transform his talents into an ever changing kaleidoscope of colorful calamity and undeniable entertainment. Whether he’s tackling a role in the New York Philharmonic’s concert production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” at Lincoln Center or directing “Rent” at The Hollywood Bowl NPH makes us aware that the “Harold & Kumar” movies aren’t just one-joke movies – they’re a platform for his subtle but brilliant character genius.