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The Grinch (2018), PG, ★★1/2


"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch..."

I am a fan of Dr. Seuss' classic book as it surrounds this green curmudgeon that fits in the category of grumpiness alongside Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Along a couple of other of Dr. Seuss books, How The Grinch Stole Christmas was repeatedly read by me during my childhood. I am hoping that children are not so drawn into the movies that they completely ignore the book. Because ever since the classic short TV film, there was a movie made by Ron Howard and starring Jim Carrey that felt boring and languid. Although, I did adore Carrey's performance but it's everything about him that made the film overlong and deserted. But, there are some fans of the film so everybody is entitled to their opinion on that movie. So, we have another Grinch film for another batch of generations who want to re-live the story again. And, the bottom line is that it is not a total dud but thanks to the vibrant holiday animation, it is not a boring re-telling of this story.

You know the story. In the town of Whoville, the Whos are anticipating Christmas. However, just north of Whoville on top of Mount Crumpit, the Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) is peeved by Christmas and the Whos being all joyful. He lives alone alongside his dog, Max. The Grinch goes down to Whoville to buy groceries after he ran out of food due to his excessive eating. Nobody knows why he is the way he is.

After observing the Whos being joyful during the holiday season and encountering Donna Lou Who (voiced by Rashida Jones) and her daughter, Cindy Lou (voiced by Cameron Seely), and the jolliest Who, Bricklebaum (voiced by Kenan Thompson), the Grinch conspires to steal Christmas away from Whoville despite being left alone of that joy. His plan is becoming Santa Claus so he can get in and out of Whoville with the gifts and decorations in ease.


This movie was fine. I have nothing much positive nor much negative to comment about this computer-animated Christmas adventure with the Grinch. The movie is a respectable version that does not add anything substantial to the classic tale. It is like chewing some mint chocolate for a while but then you will feel like that there is not much memorability in that chocolate as it is sort of a free sample from a grocery store that you want to buy and spread word-of-mouth and that say it is appetizing for the holiday season. This movie is a seasonal treat and I don't know if I'll re-watch it as much as the short.

But, I do give credit to Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the Grinch as he provides that cunning, grumpy vocal that guides the audience along the journey. He sounds like a person who is up to no good but you want to follow his every move. The animation on the Grinch is a bit bland but I do adore the character enough to forgive it. Kenan Thompson does steal the film as a holly, jolly Whoville character that is on the opposite end of the stick regarding attitude of the holiday season. But, the voice talent is grand with also Rashida Jones in the cast.

The movie has enough material and talent to stand on its own as a cable-watch Christmas film. But, it is tolerable for parents to take their children to the movies to watch this traditional fare about a person  trying to be in peace and harmony with the people and also a transformation of the character. What I would say is take the kids, your own, your uncle and aunt's, your cousin's, a friend's, and you will not be suffering during the experience. At least it looks beautiful to look at. It is looking like an animated Hallmark card.

**1/2


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