The Grinch (2018) Universal/Comedy RT: 86 minutes Rated PG (brief rude humor) Director: Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney Screenplay: Michael LeSieur and Tommy Swerdlow Music: Danny Elfman Release date: November 9, 2018 (US) Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Cameron Seely, Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson, Angela Lansbury, Pharrell Williams (narrator), Tristan O’Hare, Ramone Hamilton, Sam Lavagnino, Scarlett Estevez. Box Office: $271.4M (US)/$527.8M (World)
Rating: ***
I grew up with the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It aired on TV every year. It was a beloved holiday viewing tradition right alongside A Charlie Brown Christmas. Oh, how I loved Boris Karloff’s narration. Hearing him sing “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” was pure delight. Thinking about it right now takes me back to my childhood. It’s a beautiful memory.
Then came the feature-length version directed by Ron Howard in 2000. It starred Jim Carrey as The Grinch. I know a lot of people (including my wife) love it. I don’t. It’s dim and ugly. The Whos look like rats. To me, it’s not How the Grinch Stole Christmas; it’s The Jim Carrey Show. He just happens to be dressed as the Grinch. In no way, shape or form does it resemble the half-hour TV special I so cherish. It’s only saving grace is Anthony Hopkins’ narration. That was a good choice; the rest of it they can keep.
When I first heard Illumination (the studio behind the Despicable Me movies) was doing a new version, I cringed. Film adaptations of Dr. Seuss’ books don’t have a good track record. Look what they did to The Cat in the Hat. It’s a cinematic representation of what cats leave in the litter box. Shame on all involved! But I digress. I wasn’t enthused about this new version simply titled The Grinch. It wasn’t until I saw the third trailer that I began to have a little bit of hope. Maybe this one won’t be so bad after all, I thought. I decided to keep an open mind about it. Hallelujah, it paid off! It’s actually pretty good. It’s not as terrific as the TV special (nor did I expect it to be), but it’s far superior to that Carrey-Howard abomination (as I hoped it would be).
The book How the Grinch Stole Christmas is actually an extended poem. It’s not a long book; it’s only 69 pages according to Wikipedia. It’s just long enough for parents to read to their kids at bedtime. Given this short length, it follows that any feature-length adaptation will expand upon the original story. So it is that both the Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch sporting an American accent) and Cindy-Lou Who (Seely, The Greatest Showman) now have backstories. Nothing too complicated, mind you. The Grinch hates Christmas because he grew up in an orphanage. He frequently flashes back to how lonely he felt around Christmas each year. He came to resent everybody’s happiness and holiday cheer. Cindy-Lou comes from a single-parent household. Her mother (Jones, The Office) is tired and overworked, but still finds time to take care of her children (including two rambunctious twin boys). This year, Cindy-Lou, now elementary-school-age, has a special request for Santa Claus. It’s about the most unselfish thing a child can ask for.
Of course, there’s a small matter of a certain Grinch and his plan to ruin Christmas for everybody in Whoville. With the help of his faithful dog Max and a fat reindeer named Fred, Mr. Grinch plans to sneak into town disguised as Santa and steal everybody’s presents and decorations. If the big guy can deliver presents all over the world in a single night, it should be a breeze to strip the 200-odd homes in Whoville of all things Christmas in the same amount of time. As we all know, he learns a valuable lesson about the true meaning of Christmas and his heart grows three sizes.
Here’s another example of how The Grinch differs from the original source. While the Grinch formulates his nefarious scheme, Cindy-Lou and her pals are plotting something of their own. Worried that Santa might not receive her letter on time, she plans to corner him when he shows up at her house on Christmas Eve and make her special request in person. It’s actually a cute add-on to the story.
I like many things about The Grinch, but I’m going to start with the two things I don’t like. They may seem relatively minor to some but they’re a big deal to me. Number one, I’m not crazy about the narration by rapper/singer Pharrell Williams (“Happy”). He’s no Boris Karloff (or Anthony Hopkins for that matter). This role calls for an actor with a more distinctive, dignified voice. Number two, the hip-hop remake of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” by Tyler the Creator. In short, it’s horrible. I know they have to update it in order to connect with younger audiences, but couldn’t they have tried to remain a bit more faithful to the old one? Okay, I’m done kvetching.
Now for what I like about The Grinch. It’s brightly colored and energetic. The computer-animation is top-notch. The visuals perfectly evoke the curvy, slanty universe of Dr. Seuss. The Whos don’t look like rats this time. It’s clever and funny. I love that everybody does their grocery shopping at Who Foods (get it?). Every morning, Max makes his master a latte replete with a frowny face in the foam. Fred the reindeer has some funny moments as well. Pet owners will relate to the scene where the Grinch begrudgingly shares his bed with his two animal compadres. This Cindy-Lou Who is a lot cooler than the one in the 2000 version. She’s feisty, intelligent, insightful and not at all cloying. The voice talents do a fine job. SNL’s Kenan Thompson stands out as the happiest Who in Whoville; he labors under the delusion that he and the Grinch are besties.
If I had to pick out the movie’s finest quality, it’s this. It’s genuine in its message about Christmas not being about gifts, trees and who has the best decorated house. It’s an old but always welcome message. I’d even go so far as to say that The Grinch is touching. The Ron Howard version was crass and phony. It actually condones the commercialism it purports to be against. This new one is completely genuine. This honesty is greatly appreciated by me (and, I’m sure, every parent in the audience that grew up with the TV special). Like the titular character, I felt my heart grow a few sizes. I think we have a new Christmas classic on our hands.
