Harold and Kumar fans rejoice!! The funniest dope-smoking duo since Cheech and Chong is coming out on Blu-Ray this week. Fans will get a choice of three versions of “A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas”: a 1-disc version, a 2-disc combo pack, and for those with the technology, a 3-disc 3D combo pack. This third installment in the franchise finds Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) living separately and estranged from each other. When a mysterious package arrives on Kumar’s doorstep addressed to Harold, he decides to deliver it himself. One thing leads to another, including the torching of Harold’s Christmas tree, and the two embark on another adventure to find a replacement. Along the way they meet the usual assortment of oddities that fans have come to know and love from these movies, and NPH (that’s Neal Patrick Harris for the uninitiated) makes a raunchy, show stealing appearance. The film’s 3D effects were top notch in the theatre, particularly when smoke was blown at the camera—it was so real that I wanted to wave it away with my hand—and my hope is that 3D television technology does it the same justice.

However, I will also say that by now the boys need to grow up. For every situation that was right on the money and made me laugh, there was one that was either unfunny or came across as a cheap, desperate attempt for laughs. Still, it’s worth at least checking out for all of the good moments, especially if you’re a fan. Rent It.

Did William Shakespeare really write all of the famous plays and poems for which he receives credit? That’s the question at the heart of “Anonymous,” Roland Emmerich’s film starring Rafe Spall as Shakespeare and Rhys Ifans as the Earl of Oxford. The film purports that it was the Earl of Oxford, Edward De Vere, who wrote the works of Shakespeare, but due to political and social issues could not publish them with his name. The subject matter is one that has been debated for decades, and while Emmerich posits only one possible theory, it is an intriguing and engaging one. Rent It.

In spite of the fact that its subject matter was made to arouse debate, “Anonymous” was not the most controversial film of the year. That honor went to “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1,” which is being released on Blu-Ray this Saturday, February 11. However, the controversy had nothing to do with what the film was about, but rather had more to do with whether or not it was the worst film of the year. The “Twi-hards” of course say no, but there are many who disagree. Surely the film will earn a boatload of Razzies when they’re announced on February 25.

But the worst film of the year? I didn’t think so—and I was not looking forward to seeing it. I really liked the first “Twilight” film, but movies two and three were drab and unfulfilling. I was expecting more of the same walking into “Breaking Dawn—Part 1,” but much to my surprise, I found myself drawn into it. It’s certainly not a perfect film—the wedding scene in the beginning is too long and slow moving and the dialogue is terrible (I’m told book author Stephenie Meyer is at fault for that one)—but once the central conflict of Bella’s (Kristen Stewart) pregnancy kicked in, I found the story compelling and the action well-paced. I still don’t buy that dreamboat Edward (Robert Pattinson) and beefy hunk Jacob (Taylor Lautner) are so enamored with a girl who is plain and not fun to be around, but watching the film, I didn’t care. I just wanted to see where the story was going and what would happen next. That’s the best thing a storyteller can do, and director Bill Condon deserves credit in that regard. Twi-hards have already made up their mind to own this Blu-Ray, which is being released as a single disc special edition, but those who have not yet made up their minds that they hate it should at least Rent It.

Also out this Week: “Lady and the Tramp,” Disney’s animated story about a mutt and a bitch (technical term) finding love over a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, available in 2-disc and 3-disc Diamond Edition combo packs, depending on whether or not you want a digital copy; “Dangerous Liaisons,” with Glenn Close scheming with John Malkovich to seduce unsuspecting Michelle Pfeiffer in eighteenth century France; and “Love Story,” with Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw falling deeply for each other and never apologizing.

Andrew Hudak is a lifelong film lover. His column on Blu-Ray new releases appears every Tuesday; he also regularly reviews new theatrical releases for Hudak On Hollywood. He lives in Connecticut.

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