Year: 2018
Director: Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Cameron Seely, Rashida Jones, Pharrell Williams, Kenan Thompson, and Angela Lansbury
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Cameron Seely, Rashida Jones, Pharrell Williams, Kenan Thompson, and Angela Lansbury
Tagline: It's never too early to be annoyed by Christmas
Synopsis: Unlike the neighboring Whos down in Whoville, the Grinch cannot stand Christmas. So, with his loyal dog, Max, he plots to keep Christmas from coming.
Synopsis: Unlike the neighboring Whos down in Whoville, the Grinch cannot stand Christmas. So, with his loyal dog, Max, he plots to keep Christmas from coming.
Review
I grew up with the Chuck Jones How the Grinch Stole Christmas animated film. For various reasons, I never saw the Jim Carrey version. Going in to The Grinch, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Coming out of the film, I was pleased with having seen it, but at the same time, I was a little disappointed about some things.
Let's start with some of the film's struggles.
The 1966 version of the story is 26 minutes. The Grinch is 86 minutes. That means an hour's worth of backstory, side story, and padding. Yes, Fred the reindeer is cute and has a sweet little story line. But he really isn't needed. Sure, Cindy Lou Who is kind and has an endearing little story line. But that isn't really needed either. The power of the original film (and the book, for that matter) is in its succinctness. While the padding is nice, and colorful, and at times fun ... ultimately it is still padding that detracts and waters down the core of the story.
Speaking of watered down, this Grinch is quite watered down from the original. He's far more misunderstood and lonely than mean. This Grinch doesn't seem to have "garlic in his soul." On the one hand, that makes him more likable and relatable. We don't mind spending an extra hour with him. But it also diminishes the power of his final transformation.
When I heard that Benedict Cumberbatch had been cast as the Grinch, I was excited. I was expecting something along the lines of Smaug from The Hobbit. Sadly, that is not what we got. It seemed Benedict didn't even want to compete with Boris Karloff's Grinch.
Also a let down was the narrator. I have nothing against Pharrell Williams, but he does not have a suitably epic narrator voice. Again, did they decide to not even try to compete with Boris Karloff?
Lastly, if you must do a new version of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," do it justice and do the whole song in a manner the story and song deserve.
The world created in the film is gorgeous and fun. It has an appropriately Seussical look and feel with lots of bright colors and curvy shapes.
It's nice to see that the Grinch and Max have a better relationship. It's obvious that despite his faults, the Grinch truly cares for his loyal dog.
I'll admit, I was excited when I recognized Angela Lansbury's voice as the Mayor of Whoville.
The highlight of the film is the Grinch's heist scene. He uses an array of clever gadgets and gizmos to help him clear out the entire town in one night. That part is terrific.
I also have to give The Grinch major props for including real Christmas songs. Yes, it has "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "The Christmas Song." But I was pleased that "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Silent Night" both featured prominently. Thank you. And if you were worried, "Welcome Christmas" (aka the "Da Who Doray" song) is also present.
The film is rated PG for an incident where one of the young Whos loses his clothes in a mishap and has to cover himself with a very large cookie. I don't recall anything else.
While I do think the Grinch's redemptive transformation is watered down in this version, The Grinch still has a good message about kindness and reaching out to others. And those are certainly things we need more of in this world.
If you need a family film to get you in the Christmas spirit, The Grinch is a colorful, clever, and enjoyable option. I don't think it will ever be a holiday staple*, but it's certainly worth seeing. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go hunt down the 1966 animated version and listen to the Thurl Ravencroft version of the song.
* My Christmas staples are Muppet Christmas Carol and Prep and Landing ... in case you were wondering.
*** Spoiler Section ***
Seriously, what is up with screaming goats? First there was one in Small Foot, now there is one in The Grinch. Are screaming goats a thing and I just haven't heard about them until now? I'm so confused.
As cute as Fred the reindeer is, and as sweet as it is that he comes back to help at the end, I didn't like that part. Yeah, they needed Fred to serve some purpose in the story and show kindness to the Grinch. But in that climactic moment, Fred's help undermines the power of that scene in the original. We lose this important part: "And then the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches, plus two!" It is the Grinch who rescues the falling sleigh with newfound strength from his newfound understanding. Fred is sweet, but in this version, that triumphant/transformative moment is lost.
Let's start with some of the film's struggles.
The 1966 version of the story is 26 minutes. The Grinch is 86 minutes. That means an hour's worth of backstory, side story, and padding. Yes, Fred the reindeer is cute and has a sweet little story line. But he really isn't needed. Sure, Cindy Lou Who is kind and has an endearing little story line. But that isn't really needed either. The power of the original film (and the book, for that matter) is in its succinctness. While the padding is nice, and colorful, and at times fun ... ultimately it is still padding that detracts and waters down the core of the story.
Speaking of watered down, this Grinch is quite watered down from the original. He's far more misunderstood and lonely than mean. This Grinch doesn't seem to have "garlic in his soul." On the one hand, that makes him more likable and relatable. We don't mind spending an extra hour with him. But it also diminishes the power of his final transformation.
When I heard that Benedict Cumberbatch had been cast as the Grinch, I was excited. I was expecting something along the lines of Smaug from The Hobbit. Sadly, that is not what we got. It seemed Benedict didn't even want to compete with Boris Karloff's Grinch.
Also a let down was the narrator. I have nothing against Pharrell Williams, but he does not have a suitably epic narrator voice. Again, did they decide to not even try to compete with Boris Karloff?
Lastly, if you must do a new version of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," do it justice and do the whole song in a manner the story and song deserve.
Now for what the film did right.
The world created in the film is gorgeous and fun. It has an appropriately Seussical look and feel with lots of bright colors and curvy shapes.
It's nice to see that the Grinch and Max have a better relationship. It's obvious that despite his faults, the Grinch truly cares for his loyal dog.
I'll admit, I was excited when I recognized Angela Lansbury's voice as the Mayor of Whoville.
The highlight of the film is the Grinch's heist scene. He uses an array of clever gadgets and gizmos to help him clear out the entire town in one night. That part is terrific.
I also have to give The Grinch major props for including real Christmas songs. Yes, it has "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "The Christmas Song." But I was pleased that "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Silent Night" both featured prominently. Thank you. And if you were worried, "Welcome Christmas" (aka the "Da Who Doray" song) is also present.
The film is rated PG for an incident where one of the young Whos loses his clothes in a mishap and has to cover himself with a very large cookie. I don't recall anything else.
While I do think the Grinch's redemptive transformation is watered down in this version, The Grinch still has a good message about kindness and reaching out to others. And those are certainly things we need more of in this world.
If you need a family film to get you in the Christmas spirit, The Grinch is a colorful, clever, and enjoyable option. I don't think it will ever be a holiday staple*, but it's certainly worth seeing. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go hunt down the 1966 animated version and listen to the Thurl Ravencroft version of the song.
* My Christmas staples are Muppet Christmas Carol and Prep and Landing ... in case you were wondering.
*** Spoiler Section ***
Seriously, what is up with screaming goats? First there was one in Small Foot, now there is one in The Grinch. Are screaming goats a thing and I just haven't heard about them until now? I'm so confused.
As cute as Fred the reindeer is, and as sweet as it is that he comes back to help at the end, I didn't like that part. Yeah, they needed Fred to serve some purpose in the story and show kindness to the Grinch. But in that climactic moment, Fred's help undermines the power of that scene in the original. We lose this important part: "And then the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches, plus two!" It is the Grinch who rescues the falling sleigh with newfound strength from his newfound understanding. Fred is sweet, but in this version, that triumphant/transformative moment is lost.
Quotable Quotes
- "This is the loudest snow I've ever heard in my life." -- The Grinch
- "Today we will do mean things, and we will do them with style." -- The Grinch
- "If I'm gonna be Santa, then I need to get into character." [Reads that Santa is always jolly.] "Well, that's never going to happen." -- The Grinch
- "I put on a tie." -- The Grinch
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