Ah, “The Grinch,” that heartwarming Christmas classic about a green, furry curmudgeon who hates everything about the holidays. Yeah, heartwarming, that’s the ticket. I guess if your heart is warmed by the thought of a homicidal maniac trying to ruin Christmas for an entire town full of obnoxious, candy-cane-loving simpletons. But hey, who am I to judge? I’m just an old man who prefers a good stiff eggnog to watching some over-the-top comedian prance around in a furry suit. But duty calls, so I sat through this festive fever dream, and let me tell you, it was an experience.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Ben, you old grump, it’s a kids’ movie, lighten up!” And you’re probably right. But even kids’ movies should have some semblance of logic and restraint, something this film throws out the window faster than you can say “Roast Beast.” Jim Carrey, bless his rubbery face, goes completely bonkers as the Grinch, turning in a performance that’s equal parts hilarious and exhausting. It’s like watching a hyperactive chimpanzee on a sugar rush try to perform Shakespeare. It’s colorful, it’s manic, and it leaves you with a headache and a vague sense of nausea. Entertaining, sure, but ultimately pointless.
Review by Ben Dover: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas and My Will to Live”
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars (for Carrey’s performance alone)
Let’s get this out of the way: Jim Carrey is the only reason to watch this movie. He’s like a cartoon character come to life, contorting his face and body into impossible shapes, delivering lines with a manic energy that would make Robin Williams look like a statue. He’s clearly having a blast, and his enthusiasm is infectious, even if his performance is about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the face.
The rest of the cast is…well, they’re there. Taylor Momsen, as Cindy Lou Who, is cute enough, I suppose, though her character’s wide-eyed innocence is enough to give you a toothache. The rest of the Whos are a bunch of garishly dressed, over-the-top caricatures who seem to exist solely to annoy the Grinch (and the audience). I swear, if I had to hear them sing “Where Are You Christmas?” one more time, I would have ripped my ears off.
The film’s biggest sin, however, is its complete disregard for the source material. Dr. Seuss’s original story was a charming tale about the true meaning of Christmas, told with simple rhymes and whimsical illustrations. This movie, on the other hand, is a loud, overblown spectacle that throws in everything but the kitchen sink. There’s slapstick humor, fart jokes, pop culture references, and even a bizarre subplot about the Grinch’s childhood trauma. It’s like they took a perfectly good children’s book and injected it with a gallon of Red Bull. It’s like they took that story, force-fed it steroids and crystal meth, then set it loose in a tinsel factory. The result is a Christmas fever dream that makes me wonder if someone spiked my eggnog. They have ass jokes constantly, a milf who wants to screw the Grinch, bullying, and all manners of BS spread throughout including shaming Cindy Lou which by itself is an unforgiveable sin.
The Whos down in Whoville are so creepy, I half expected them to start chanting and sacrificing small animals to their Christmas tree. Not only that Howard ruined the entire story by making them complete assholes. They are upset about the toys ,to them the whole Christmas story is about what they get and not the spirit, No one in this movie cares about the true meaning of Christmas. They are also the ones who bullied the Grinch in the first place, and they continue through most of the film.
And speaking of Whoville, it’s like Santa’s workshop had a baby with a acid trip. It’s so garish and over-the-top, I felt like I needed sunglasses just to look at the screen.
But you know what? Despite all this, despite the sensory overload and the ham-fisted attempts at heartwarming moments, I didn’t completely hate it. It’s like that ugly Christmas sweater your aunt knitted you – it’s garish, it’s uncomfortable, but damn it if it doesn’t have a certain charm. Carrey’s performance is undeniably entertaining, and there are a few genuinely funny gags scattered throughout. The special effects, while excessive, are also quite impressive, particularly the Grinch’s furry green makeup and the whimsical design of Whoville. And despite my complaints about the film’s over-the-top nature, I have to admit that it does end with everyone capturing the spirit of Christmas, albeit in a rather chaotic and noisy way.
In the end, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is like a Christmas present wrapped in too much paper – there’s something good inside, but you’ve got to wade through layers of excess to get to it. It’s not the worst Christmas movie I’ve ever seen (looking at you, “Jingle All the Way”), but it’s far from the best.
So, if you’ve got a high tolerance for visual chaos and a soft spot for Jim Carrey’s rubber-faced antics, give it a whirl. Just don’t blame me if you end up with a migraine and a sudden urge to paint your house in nauseating shades of green and red. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go watch the original cartoon to cleanse my palate. Bah humbug, and get off my Whoville lawn!
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars (for Carrey’s performance alone)
Synopsis and Plot Breakdown:
The Grinch, a green, furry creature with a heart “two sizes too small,” lives in a cave on Mount Crumpit, overlooking the cheerful town of Whoville. He despises Christmas and everything about it, and he decides to steal all the Whos’ presents, food, and decorations to ruin their holiday. However, his plans are complicated when he encounters Cindy Lou Who, a young girl who believes in the true spirit of Christmas. Cindy Lou’s kindness and innocence slowly begin to melt the Grinch’s icy heart, and he eventually realizes the error of his ways, returning all the stolen goods and joining the Whos in their Christmas celebration.
Famous Quotes:
- “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
- “Blast this Christmas music. It’s joyful and triumphant.”
- “4:00, wallow in self-pity; 4:30, stare into the abyss; 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one; 5:30, jazzercize; 6:30, dinner with me – I can’t cancel that again; 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing…”
- “Hate, hate, hate. Hate, hate, hate. Double hate. Loathe entirely!”
- “And they’ll feast, feast, feast, feast. They’ll eat their Who-Pudding and rare Who-Roast Beast. But that’s something I just cannot stand in the least. Oh, no. I’M SPEAKING IN RHYME!”
Interesting Notes:
- Jim Carrey spent 92 days in full Grinch makeup during filming.
- The Grinch’s dog, Max, was played by six different mixed-breed shelter dogs.
- The Whoville set was one of the largest ever constructed for a film.
- The film’s soundtrack features a mix of original songs and classic Christmas tunes.
- The Grinch’s green fur was made from yak hair dyed green.
Photos:
Trailer: