An unusual thing happened to Kal Penn on the way to stardom: in April 2009, after making two successful franchise-starting Harold & Kumar comedies, appearing in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns , and co-starring on TV’ s House , the rising actor opted to take a two-year sabbatical from Hollywood to work in the Obama administration. This week, he returns to screens as Kumar to John Cho’s Harold in A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas , which finds the former hamburger-seeking BFF s facing new, daunting life changes and, in the spirit of the holidays, renewing their friendship the old fashioned way: With giant spliffs, babies on drugs, and Claymation.
‘The movie is in 3-D because the ‘Jersey Shore’ is in 3-D,’ Kal Penn jokes to MTV News in our Fall Movie Preview. By Eric Ditzian Kal Penn and John Cho in “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas” Photo: New Line Cinema Last summer, MTV News got a very special, very twisted look at ” A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas ,” the third installment of Kal Penn and John Cho’s herbaceous buddy-comedy franchise, when we popped by the Detroit set. We can’t yet show you much of what we saw that day, but as part of our Fall Movie Preview, we’re rolling out a tasty nugget of our interview with Penn and Cho. In between cracking jokes about ’80s comedies, MTV programming and potential celebrity cameos, the duo let us know what we can expect when the new film, which focuses on the two estranged friends reuniting during the holidays, hits theaters November 4. Click for exclusive photos from Fall’s biggest flicks. MTV : So why is this movie in 3-D? Kal Penn : The movie is in 3-D because the “Jersey Shore” is in 3-D. John Cho : “Avatar” was in 3-D. I’m not in competition with “Avatar.” I’m not in competition with James Cameron. He does his thing. We do our thing. He makes cartoons. I understand he had a good year. I’m just saying, the technology isn’t his. Penn : I’m just psyched because “Goonies” was in 3-D and that’s why this is in 3-D. You’ve never seen “Goonies.” Cho : I’ve never seen “Goonies.” Penn : That is so crazy to me! That’s so nuts to me, dude. It’s egregious that you haven’t watched “Goonies.” MTV : Can we expect 3-D nakedness? Penn : Listen, you’re going to see some 3-Deeez nuts. [ Sings to the tune of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s “Deez Nuuuts” ] Cho : There’s enhanced nudity. Penn : Very ma ture, the way you’re saying that. Enhanced nudity. This is not the NPR interview; this is MTV. They just got done watching Snooki get arrested. You do not have to say anything other than “3-D nuts.” MTV : Have you had time to enjoy Detroit? Cho : I’ve been buying cars. I’ve got a lot of cash, and I’m spending it on automobiles. Lots of ’97 Pontiac Firebirds. Lot of Ford Tauruses. Penn : I like shooting in Detroit. If you have not been to Detroit, you should come. People are super friendly. There are a lot of beautiful buildings, and sadly many of them are abandoned. Hopefully the city bounces back. Look at our first film: I loved shooting in Toronto, but it was still a bummer that we had to leave the United States to shoot a quintessential American road-trip comedy. Cho : Also, Toronto had so many foreigners. Penn : We were the foreigners. Toronto is in a different country. Cho : No, we’re Americans. MTV : Why have Harold and Kumar grown apart? Cho : They’re at different times in their lives. Kumar is looking for a way to stay in his younger existence, and Harold is artificially trying to be more mature and is choosing an excessively old mature friend. MTV : What can we expect in terms of romance? Penn : When the last film left off, Kumar and Vanessa were obviously very much together. Over the next six years, Vanessa moved into Kumar’s apartment. They continued their relationship. It was moving down the road toward marriage. And then Kumar lost his job. He couldn’t stop smoking weed. It wasn’t as much the weed as him completely latching on to still being frivolous and still being down for whatever and not taking Vanessa seriously and taking her for granted. So slowly after he lost Harold to Maria, he kind of grew resentful of the notion that if his best friend could go off and choose this woman over him, then maybe everyone was just out to get him. He drifted further apart from Vanessa. That’s where we pick up now. MTV : Besides Neil Patrick Harris, what celebrity cameos are in the works? Penn : Patton Oswalt, Tom Lennon, Paula Abdul, Snooki and Mayor Koch. From “Abduction” to “Muppets, “Moneyball” to “Breaking Dawn,” the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest upcoming flicks in our 2011 Fall Movie Preview. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films’ biggest stars. Check out everything we’ve got on “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Fall Movie Preview 2011 Related Photos Exclusive Photos From Fall’s Biggest Flicks
Are you a fan of the ‘Harold & Kumar’ movie franchise? I have to say, this is the type of movie that looks like it has some funny moments but overall is too long for me. I’d prefer to watch … Continue reading → Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : I’m Not Obsessed Discovery Date : 12/08/2011 17:30 Number of articles : 2
Filed under: John Cho , Kal Penn , Who'd You Rather? , Beauty Stars of the ” Harold & Kumar ” film franchise John Cho and Kal Penn reunited at White Castle the same event in Burbank on Monday. Question is … Read more
Filed under: Kal Penn , Paparazzi Video Kal Penn wasn’t sweating after being robbed at gunpoint in Washington D.C. yesterday — in fact, dude told cameras he was doing “good” after the entire ordeal. A little thing like robbery ain’t gonna bring Kumar down on 4/20! Read more
What’s a guy need to do to get to White Castle these days?! Kal Penn, the once and future Harold & Kumar star who toils for the White House in between acting gigs, was robbed at…
There is a brilliant cameo about halfway through Zombieland that many are comparing to NPH (Neil Patrick Harris for all you uncool kids out there) in the Harold & Kumar movies. Though I will not give it away, I would argue that this …
