In 2001, Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) loses his parents and becomes without family. His friends Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) take him on a Christmas Eve binge to cheer him up. It becomes a yearly ritual. They hear of a blow-out called the Nutcracker Ball but could never find it. This is the last year for the ritual. Ethan is a failed musician in a rut. He steals three tickets to the Ball working the coat check. Isaac is preparing to be a father and his pregnant wife Betsy (Jillian Bell) gives him a box of drugs. Chris is a famous football player. They run into Ethan's ex Diana (Lizzy Caplan). Isaac's phone gets exchanged with Sarah (Mindy Kaling). They buy weed from Mr. Green (Michael Shannon) but Chris' groupie Rebecca (Ilana Glazer) steals it.

This has a bit of Harold and Kumar but it's not quite as irreverent or silly. It does have a core of seriousness. Through it all, I like the three friends. They are good individually and solid chemistry together. I like all the female co-stars. I probably laugh hardest at the crucification. This is a fun group of characters and I like hanging out with them for a hundred minutes.

And other rude stuff of course. But you can guess that by seeing not only the rating this has on its sleeve but also by the cast list. Having said that, this is an adventure 3 friends go on every year on Christmas. And as everything that has been done too many times, it wears out (for them that is, maybe for the viewer too?).

You have to like the three main actors or at least not hate them, to kind of enjoy the movie. There is of course at least one love interest and a lot of side characters (family),not to mention the clear connection to the Christmas Carol. But this Carol takes you on a different kind of a trip .. well you get the pun. If you think this is funny, then you passed the first test of "Should I watch this?". The rest is up to you and your mood/feelings towards this type of comedy ...

Just watched this again last night and I laughed through this entire movie, lots of good actors & pretty good story. Looks like a bunch of nerds who are anti drugs gave this movie a 1 star, people take everything so seriously sometimes, this is classic Rogen. But if you're high af & looking for a great late night laugh fest then this is the movie for you! This is definitely in the Christmas rotation for me every year.